


































7W'- 


HISTORY 


OF THE 


TOWN OF BERKELEY, 


ITS 


CHURCH, CASTLE, 


ETC., ETC., 


BY THE REV. JOHN FISHER, 

J i» 

LEICESTER ; 

(Formerly Curate of Berkeley,) 

Author of the “History of Bur ford, Oxfordshire .” 


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LONDON: HOULSTON & WRIGHT, 

65, PATERNOSTER ROW $ 

LEICESTER : T. CHAPMAN BROWNE, BIBLE AND CROWN. 

1864. 









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1 'O X, 

U A PAINFUL WORK IT IS, I*LL ASSURE YOU, WHEREIN 
WHAT TOYLE HATH BEEN TAKEN, AS NO MAN THINKETH, 
SO NO MAN BELIEVETH, BUT HE THAT HATH MADE THE 
TRIAL.” 

Ant. A. Wood. 




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Entered at Stationers* Hall. 


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THE RIGHT HON. 

lit ®DDrto-/rtiiBritk- < l : itjjiarMngE 

G.C.B., 

BARON FITZHARDINGE, 

ADMIRAL, R.N., 

A PRIVY COUNCILLOR, 

OF BERKELEY CASTLE, IN THE COUNTY OF GLOUCESTER J 
AND A MAGISTRATE FOR THE SAME COUNTY, 

&C., &c., &C., 

©jrxs 

DESCRIPTIVE OF THE INTERESTING DOMAIN AND ANCIENT CASTLE 

OF HIS ANCESTORS, 

IS, BY PERMISSION, MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 

BY HIS LORDSHIP’S MOST HUMBLE 

AND MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT, 

THE AUTHOR. 
























INTRODUCTION 


TO THE FIRST EDITION. 


The Writer of the following pages is of opinion that as there are 
everywhere persons who have never taken the trouble to acquaint 
themselves with the history of the place of their abode, a popular 
History of Berkeley may not be unacceptable. 

The want of such a Work has long been complained ofj and it 
appeared to the Author that if he could present in a cheap and 
accessible volume all the information necessary for a good Guide 
Book, he would acceptably supply that desideratum. 

He was unwilling, indeed, that a Town possessed of so many 
historical associations, and containing objects of great antiquarian 
interest, and much picturesque beauty, should not have its special 
monograph, while many Towns of inferior note have their elabo¬ 
rate Histories. 

If this little Work tend to increase the interest of the inha¬ 
bitants of Berkeley in all that concerns their ancient Town, or if 
it serve as a Guide to the many occasional visitors of the locality, 
the Author’s object will have been attained. 


Berkeley, May, 1856. 











































. 











































INTRODUCTION 

TO THE 

SECOND EDITION. 


In this Edition, several errors in the first are cor¬ 
rected, and many omissions supplied. 

The whole Work has undergone a careful revisal, 
and the Author hopes it is thereby rendered more 
worthy of the reception which the Public have 
already kindly given to it. 

Leicester, June, 1864. 

























AN OLD HOUSE IN BERKELEY 


























































































































































































HISTORY 


OF THE 

TOWN OF BERKELEY . 


Chapter I. 


THE TOWN. 

“Berkeley, whose fair seat hath been famous long,” 
as Drayton in his “ Polyolbion ” hath it, is an ancient 
Borough and Market-town in the hundred of Berkeley, 
Gloucestershire, but sends no member to Parliament. 
It is the largest parish in the county, and gives name 
to the greatest division, for taking in the tithings it is 
twenty-four miles in compass. 

There are seven considerable hamlets, or tithings, 
in this parish, viz.: 

1. The Borough of Berkeley. 

2. Alkington, which contains Swanley, Woodford, 
Rugbagge, Michael-wood Chase, Wick, and New¬ 
port. 

3. Bradstone, now called Breadstone, which gave 
name to a family who were the ancient lords of it. 

4. Hinton, anciently called Seven-Hanger, and part 
of Halmore. 

E 


6 












2 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


5. Hamfallow, in which are Mansel, and part of 
Halmore. 

6. Ham, in which are Clapton, Bevington, Whitley 
Park, Peddington, and New Park. 

7. Stone, which has a Chapel dedicated to All 
Saints. 

The town is sixteen miles southward from Glou¬ 
cester, five westward from Dursley, eight northward 
from Thornbury, and one eastward from the river 
Severn, with which there is a navigable communication 
by means of a narrow channel called the Pill. 

It is pleasantly situated on an eminence, and is 
surrounded by rich meadow lands, which are particu¬ 
larly noted for the production of good cheese. 

The soil is composed of clay and rich loam. 

The origin of the name of any town is generally 
worth seeking for, as it will often throw light on its 
early history. 

Berkeley , in the Saxon tongue Beorkenlau , and after¬ 
wards Berchelai , derives its name from Berk, signifying 
a beech-tree, and Lea or Ley, which signifies a pasture. 
The beech-tree grew very plentifully here in former 
times. 

Its origin is unknown, though certainly anterior to 
the Conquest, at which period Walter de Mapes 
says:—“Berkeley neere unto Severn is a towne of 
500 pounds revenew. In it there was a Nunnery, 
and the Abbesse over these Nunnes was a Noble 
woman and a beautiful,” Sec. 










HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


3 


The founder is unknown, but the account of its 
dissolution is remarkable, and the Author here abbre¬ 
viates it from the pages of Walter de Mapes :—■ 

Godwin, Earl of Kent, the famous Thane, whose 
daughter Editha was married to Edward the Confessor, 
was a deep designing man, who would stop at no 
crime which promised to increase his worldly goods. 
This nobleman had engrossed all power in the reign 
of Edward the Confessor, and had possessed himself ! 
of many great estates. He cast his eye upon this fruit¬ 
ful Manor, and being a man most deeply pregnant j 
in devising how to do injury, obtained possession 
of this place by leaving, as he passed this way, his i 
Nephew, a beautiful young man (pretending that he 
was sickly) in the Nunnery here until he returned back, 
and instructed him how to effect its dissolution. By 
fair speech and presents this youth seduced the Abbess 
and most of the nuns, and informing his uncle thereof, 
the Earl reports this conduct to the King, who, finding 
all that was told him to be true, thrust out the Nuns, 
destroyed the Nunnery, and gave Berkeley to Godwin, 
who settled it upon his wife Gueda; but she refused 
to eat anything that came out of this Manor, because 
of the destruction of the Abbey; and therefore he 
bought Udecestre (Woodchester) for her maintenance 
while she lived at Berkeley, as is thus stated in Domes¬ 
day Book : “ Earl Godwin bought Udecestre of Azor, 
and gave it to his wife, that she should live from it as 
long as she dwelt at Berchelai; for he was unwilling 


B 2 












4 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


to squander away any part of this Manor because 
of the destruction of the Abbey.” 

The wickedness of this Earl Godwin did not long 
prosper, for he died in the Easter of 1053, and his 
; eldest son, Harold, succeeded to his territories and 
command, and to even more than Godwin’s authority 
in the nation. 

The following is a translation of an account of 
Berkeley in Domesday Book,* where it is styled a 
royal demesne, and is thus described:—“In Berchelai 
King Edward had five hides; and in the demesne five 
ploughs; and twenty villanes and five b’ordars with 
eleven ploughs, and nine bondmen ;f and two mills of 
twelve shillings.” 

* Domesday Book. When King Alfred divided his kingdom into 
Counties, Hundreds, and Tithings, he had an Inquisition taken of the 
several districts and digested into a Register called Dom-boc, i.e. the 
judicial or judgment book, reposited in the church of Winchester , and 
thence entitled Codex Wintoniensis, to which King Edward, Sen. seems 
to refer in the first chapter of his laws. 

The general survey taken by King William the Conqueror was after 
the precedent of King Alfred, and seems but a corruption of, or rather 
an addition to, the same name, Dom-boc into Domesday-book. And 
therefore a trifling derivation to impute the name to Domus Dei, as if so 
called from the church wherein it was first reposited. Nor is it any 
wiser conjecture to ascribe it to Doomsday , or the final day of judgment. 
When the appellation does really imply no more than the Doom-book, or 
register from which sentence and judgment might be given in the tenure 
of estates : whence by Latin writers commonly called Liber Judicialis. 

t Bondmen, perhaps household bondmen, as distinct from the Villanes, 
who were the agricultural bondmen, and had lands and houses assigned 
to them. 

The Bordars were Cottagers, from the Anglo-Saxon Bord, a cottage. 
They are supposed to have been in not so servile a condition as the 
others. 











HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 5 

“ There are ten radchenistres, having seven hides, 
and seven ploughs. 

" There is a Market Place (Forum) in which seven¬ 
teen vassals dwell, and they pay tax according to the 
rent (reddunt census in firm a)? 

Thus at this period King Edward held 1,440 acres, 
thirty-four tenants, and two mills for his own use. 

Ten freemen held 1,400 acres; and seventeen free¬ 
men resided in the town. 

According to Domesday the following hamlets be¬ 
longed to Berchelai:—• 


HAMLETS. HIDES. ACRES. 

In Hill.4.640 

„ Alkinton .. .. 4.640 

„ Hinton .. .. 4.640 

„ Cam.17.2720 

,, Gossington .. 4.640 

,, Dursley .. .. 3.480 

,, Cowley .. .. 4.640 

„ Uley . . .. 2.320 

„ Nimpsfield .. 3.480 

„ Wotton .. ..15 and ~ a virgate 2420 

,, Simondshall .. o|. 80 

„ Kingscote .. .. 4^.720 

,, Beverstone ..10 .1600 

,, Ozleworth .. o\ . 80 

„ Almondsbury .. ..320 

,, Horfield .. .. 8.1280 

„ Weston .. .. 7 and 1 virgate .. 1160 

„ Elberton .. .. 5.800 

,, Cromhall .. .. 2.320 

„ Arlingham .. 9. 144 ° 

,, Ashelworth .. 3. 48 ° 


II1J and l± virgate 17900 


































6 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 




It must be observed here, that the Domesday 
Record only specified lands under arable cultivation ; 
meadows and pastures being then held in common, and 
not reckoned. The above hamlets are therefore esti- 
mated far below their contents. 

In these there were, in King Edward’s time, 1,960 
j acres (49^ plough tillages) held in the king’s own 
hands; and 5,040 acres (126 plough tillages) held by 
242 farmers, and 142 cottagers, paying services instead 
of rent, and rendering poultry, eggs, &c. 

There were 127 serfs, living at the discretion of the 
lord. Nineteen freemen held 1,920 acres. There were 
twenty-two soccage tenants, and fifteen female serfs, 
dependent entirely upon the lord. 

There were eight mills at rather more than seven 
shillings a year rent each. 

This information presents a vast fund for the investi¬ 
gation of the Antiquary, and even the non-calculating 
mind cannot fail to be aware of the extent of this im- 
mense Manor.* 

On the death of Edward the Confessor, Jan. 5 th, 

1 1065, Harold, eldest son of the deceased Earl Godwin, 
was proclaimed king, but was killed at the battle of 
j Hastings, October 14th, 1066, when William the 
Conqueror obtained the victory, and became king of 
j England. 

* Agriculture at that early period was an employment for mere main¬ 
tenance—not as at present, for the exercise of science and the invest¬ 
ment of capital. 















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


7 


William now bestows the Manor of Berkeley upon 
Roger, Lord of Dursley and of its castle, who there¬ 
upon takes the name of Roger de Berkeley. This Roger 
was a great benefactor to the priory of Stanley 
St. Leonards, and in 1091 became a shorn monk 
therein. Having no issue, this Manor descended to his 
i Nephew and heir William de Berkeley, Lord of 
Dursley, and founder of the Abbey of Kingswood in 

" 39 - 

He was succeeded by his eldest son and heir, Roger 
j de Berkeley, Lord of Dursley. This Roger held his 
lands in capite , at a yearly rent of £50°. 17s. 2d. to 
the Crown. He was deprived of his Manors of Dursley 
and Berkeley for taking part with Stephen against 
Henry II.; but King Henry being intreated by the 
j Lords of his realm, restored the Barony and Manor of 
Dursley to him for his own inheritance ; and gave the 
Barony and Manor of Berkeley to Robert Fitzharding, 
the son of Harding, the King of Denmark’s son, for his | 
eminent services and fidelity. This extensive Manor is 
still vested in his posterity, the present noble Baron 
Fitzhardinge being descended from him. Before taking 
J leave, for the present, of this Barony and Manor, the 
author would observe, that they were alienated to King 
Henry VII. and his heirs male, by William Berkeley, 
seventh Lord, and Marquess of Berkeley ; but upon the 
death of King Edward VI., the last heir male of 
Henry VII., Henry Berkeley, twelfth Lord by right, 
succeeded as heir to the seventh Lord to Berkeley 














8 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


j Castle and lands, and thus recovered the ancient honor 
and precedency of the family. 

“ ‘ Describe the Borough,’—though our idle tribe 
May love description, can we so describe, 

That you shall fairly streets and buildings trace, 

And all that gives distinction to a place ? ” 

Crahhe. “ The Borough,” Letter I. 

Though the town may in general be considered as 
irregularly built, yet there are a few good houses in it; 
it consists of these streets,—High Street, Salter Street, 
Marybrook* Street alias Madbrook Street, and Canon- 
bury street alias Spurryers Street, and the Stock Lane. 
It was anciently distinguished by monuments of 
antiquity, viz.:—On the right of the road, entering 
the town from Gloucester, stood Longbridge Hospital, 
founded by the first Maurice de Berkeley,t long since 
gone to ruins, and of which there are no traces left. 
The site is now green meadows: “Ipste periere ruinae.” 
At the junction of the four streets stood the Market 
Cross, and in High Street there was a cross opposite 
the west window of the church, of which not a trace 
is left; near Lockfast Bridge was an ancient water 
mill, spoken of in Domesday and also mentioned in the 
twelfth century, where the corn of the castle was 
ground: in Salter Street, near the Market Cross, stood 
the old Market House, a very ancient and curious 

* St. Mary’s Brook was a reputed mineral spring, much valued by the 
ancient inhabitants. 

t In the reign of King Henry II. 














HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 9 

building, forming an archway over the causeway, and 
extending into the street. It was pulled down rather 
more than sixty-eight years ago. 

There were several antique houses in the Market 
Place, but these are long since decayed. 

A few mean specimens, however, of ancient archi¬ 
tecture still remain in the town, but most of the old 
houses have been re-fronted and repaired either during 
the last century or recently. 

Berkeley is an ancient Corporate town, being in¬ 
corporated by prescription from the Earls of Berkeley 
by the style of “ the Burgesses and Merchants of 
Berkeley, their heirs and assigns,” about the 20th, and 
again in the 46th of Henry III. It is under the 
government of a Mayor (who is only titular, and is 
sworn at the Court-Leet of the Earl of Berkeley), and 
twelve Aldermen who have been Mayors; but their 
privilege is merely nominal, though the forms of a 
Corporation are continued to this day. It never sent 
any Member to Parliament. Leland, who wrote in 
1520, says of it— 

“The Towne of Berkeley is no great thinge, but it 
standythe well, and in a very good soyle. 

“ It hathe very muche occupied, and yet somewhat 
dothe. Clothing. 

“ The Churche stondithe on an Hille at the South 
Ende of the Towne. 

“ And the Castle stondithe at the South West ende 
of the Churche. 



IO 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


“ It is no great thinge. 

“ Divers Towres be in the compase of it. 

“ The Warde of the first Gate is mitely stronge, and 
a Bridge over a Dyche to it. There is a Sqware Don- 
geon Towre in the Castle, sed non stat in mole egesta 
Terra. 

“ There longe to Berkeley four Parks, two Chases. 
Okely Parke, hard by. Whitwike. New Parke. 
Hawlle Parke. Miche Wood Chase.”* 

However affairs may have gone of old, the in¬ 
habitants may be said at this day to have nomen sine 
re , and may rather boast of the glories of the feudal 
ages than pride themselves on having any present 
municipal status. 

At a short distance from the town flows the little 
river Avon, on the banks of which during the summer 
months many a juvenile Izaak Walton may generally 
be seen ; it soon enters the Pill, and hence into the 
Severn. 

The little Avon takes its rise at Boxwell, a parish 
above Wotton-under-Edge, nearly nine miles up the 
country; this village derives its name from a large 
Box-tree wood, where is a well which sends out this 
stream. 

There was not any Fair here until Thomas Lord 
Berkeley, fourth of that name, obtained a grant in the 
18 th year of King Richard II., 1394, to have one 
held yearly on the vigil and the day of the Invention 
* Leland’s Itin., v. 7, p. 9G. 













HISTORY OF BERKELEY. I I 

of Holy Cross, called Holy Rood Day (May 3rd). This 
Fair continues to this day, but since the new style of 
chronology was introduced into Great Britain (1752), 
it has been held on the 14th.* There is also another 
Annual Fair, held the second Monday in December ; it 
was instituted about twenty-live years ago by the late 
Mr. Alfred Pearce, Wine and Spirit Merchant, of this 
town. 

And there is an Annual Market, called the Great 
Market, held the first Tuesday in November. 

A Monthly Market was established February 2nd, 
1859, for Cattle, Cheese, &c.; on which occasion 
ninety gentlemen and farmers sat down to dinner at 
the Berkeley Arms Hotel, Colonel Berkeley, M.P., 
Chairman. 

Population. 

The following is an extract from the Population 
Tables:— 

Borough of Berkeley. 

1801 1811 1821 1831 1841 1851 1861 

Total .... 658 616 838 901 926 949 1012 

Males .... 330 296 380 423 412 424 465 

The Canal. 

The Gloucester and Berkeley Canal was commenced 
in the year 1794, and completed in 1827, at a cost of 

* The earlier Lords of Berkeley would not have Fairs held in the town, 
being unwilling that a multitude of people should be assembled so near 
their Castle, and thus endanger a surprise from the enemy in those 
agitated times. They purchased charters for Fairs to be held at Wotton, 
Dursley, Newport, and Cambridge, in this hundred of Berkeley. 




















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


I 2 

£ 500,000. It begins in the Severn at Sharpness 
Point, about three miles north of Berkeley, and termi¬ 
nates at Gloucester in spacious docks, the distance 
being only sixteen and a half miles. 

Vessels of eight hundred tons burden are enabled to 
reach Gloucester by this canal, whereas by the Severn 
the distance is about thirty miles with a difficult and 
hazardous navigation. 

The Dissenters. 

The Dissenters from the strict doctrines of the 
Church of England form collectively in this town a 
small portion of the community, and two Chapels have 
been erected by them. 

The denominations are Wesleyans and Independents. 
The former, having formed themselves into a congre¬ 
gation, built a Chapel on Canonbury Hill, in the year 
1805; and the latter erected their Chapel in Salter 
Street, in the year 1835. The pew-rent principle is 
not adopted here, either in support of the Chapel or 
Preacher; but voluntary contributions are given for 
those purposes. Sunday schools have been established 
in connection with these Chapels. 















- 

I 



BERKELEY CHURCH—(North-west View.) 





































































































































Chapter II. 


THE CHURCH, &c. 

In a country town the Church is generally the first 
attraction for a stranger. Even to those who are not 
Antiquarians, the examination of such edifices is always 
pleasant and gratifying, especially when the mind is 
impressed with the fact that they were raised by the 
labours of our forefathers. Our ancient churches have 
• received a greater share of the munificence, talents, 
and labours of our forefathers than most other build¬ 
ings. In them we find such testimonies of piety, such 
traces of simple trustfulness, such hopefulness:— 

“ The place is purified with hope, 

The hope that is of prayer; 

And human love, and heavenward thought, 

And pious faith are there.” 

According to the “ Cartularium de Reading,” the 
church of Berkeley, with the Prebend annexed, and 
the Prebend of the Nuns, was given by Adelida, the 












14. HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

Queen and second wife of Henry I., to the Monks of 
Reading. 

Dugdale, in his “ Monasticon,” says;—“ This dona¬ 
tion was further confirmed by the Empress Maude,” 
daughter of the said King Henry I. And in the 
Manuscripts of Dr. Parsons, at Oxford, it is said, that 
“ There was an ancient church, dedicated to our 
Saviour and His Saints, upon whose wall was written 
the Apocalypse in Latin. It was joined to the old 
tower.” Upon the alienation of the Advowson, an 
agreement was made, during the reign of Henry II., 
between the Canons of St. Augustine, Bristol, and the 
Monks of Reading, concerning the church of Berkeley, 
to which there were subordinate chapels, by paying to 
the latter twenty marks. Thus we see that there 
formerly stood in the churchyard a tower, to which a 
church was joined ; and, it is to be observed, that this 
old church was not so much a Parochial as a Collegiate . 
or Prebendal church. The Abbeys, by means of the 
Pope, having quashed this Collegiate church, Robert 
Fitzharding proceeded to erect the present edifice, at 
some distance from the other, which accounts for the 
estrangement of the tower. Smyth says, “ The Church 
and Advowson of this Parish with its Chapels was, by 
Robert, the sonne of Harding, the first Lord Berkeley, 
in the time of Kinge Henry Seconde, given amongst 
j others to the Monastery of St. Augustine, Bristol, at 
his first foundation thereof; which the Abbots of the 
Convent shortly after found means, with the Bishop of 














HISTORY OF BERKELEY. I 5 

Worcester, and an Incumbent of their own present- 
inge, to appropriate with others.” And again he says, 

“ The appropriation of the Church, as also the Vicar- 
idge, which it presented to, belongs (as in Mr. Smyth’s 
time it did) to the Dean and Chapter of Bristol, of 
newe erected in 38 Henry VIII., of which church 
the blessed Virgin Mary was the tutelary Saint, to 
whom the same was dedicated.” 

The Records in the Tower of London show, that 
“ the Lords of the Manor anciently used to pay Peter’s 
pence* to the Bishop of Worcester, 16s. 4d. yearly, j 
and hee the same to the Bishop of Rome; which, 
being unpaid for certaine yeares, by reason their lands 
came into the hands of Edward II., on account of the 
rebellion of Maurice Lord Berkeley, the Bishop was 
restored to have them paid unto him, as anciently he 
had.”— Claus. 16 Edward II. m. 22. F. 

The Rectory, after the Dissolution of Monasteries, 
formed part of the endowment of the Chapter of 
Bristol, but “ was sold during the grand rebellion.”— 
Hurl. MS. 5013. 

At the Restoration it reverted to the Chapter, in 
whom it still remains. 

Bigland says, page 153 :—“ The Benefice is a Vicar¬ 
age, in the presentation of the Earl of Berkeley, the 

* Peter’s pence were alms which the Kings of England had very long 
been accustomed to pay to the See of Rome ; but in 1533, it was enacted 
that this imposition'should be done away with .—Act 25 Henry VIII., 
c. 20. 


















1 6 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

Chapter of Bristol having alienated their right, by Act 
of Parliament, to George first Earl of Berkeley, in 
consideration of an exchange of the Advowsons of 
Berkeley and Hinton for that of Sutton Bonnington, 
in the county of Nottingham. But the impropriation * 
is retained by them.” 

The Benefice is a Vicarage, in the Deanery of 
Dursley, of which the Earl of Berkeley is Patron, 
valued now at ^75o a-year. The Rectorial tithe, 
amounting to ^1,735 a-year and upwards, goes to the 
Dean and Chapter of Bristol, or their Lessees. 

The Rev. John Seton-Karr was presented to the 
Benefice in 1839, by the Right Honourable Baron 
Segrave, afterwards Earl Fitzhardinge; but the Earl 
of Berkeley was then , and is now , the Patron. 

The Church, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, 
is a large and handsome structure, consisting of a nave, 
two aisles, and a chancel. 

It is considered by Antiquarians to be by far the 
finest in its own neighbourhood. 

It was new pewed in the year 1732. 

The style of architecture is the early English, very 
pure and good; and if Robert Fitzharding were the 
founder of the present church, it is evident that the j 

* At the dissolution of Monasteries, a.d. 1537, certain Livings were 
disposed of to the best bidders, or to the greatest favourites, and so 
became Lay property ; these are called Impropriations. Appropriations 
are such as were appointed to the erecting or augmenting of some 
Bishopric, Deanery, or religious foundation. 














HISTORY OF BERKELEY. I 7 

whole building must have been reconstructed from its 
first form, by gradual reparations. 

A movement for the repairs and restoration of the 
church is now in progress, and about ,£1,400 have 
already been subscribed ; but £ 1,000 more are wanted. 

The building is so completely plastered and white¬ 
washed within and without, that the masonry is hid. 

The Author must, therefore, confine himself to the 
present appearance and architectural character of the 
edifice. 

West Front. 

Externally .—This doorway is set in a gable, be¬ 
tween two blank pointed arches, and has a very obtuse 
arch elaborately foliated and resting on detached shafts 
with flowered capitals. 

It is low—doorways being intentionally made low , 
in order to teach humility. 

This end is flanked by two large buttresses, the 
northern one having a staircase somewhat curiously 
attached, the southern one was a few years ago very 
feebly repaired. 

These terminations to the northern and southern 
aisles are mere botches, and underwent repairs in the 
year 1818; had towers been built, the termination 
would have been of the most striking character. 

The window above is a quintuplet of five round- 
headed lancets trefoiled, with banded shafts and floriated 
capitals to each. 

c 









I 8 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

They increase in height towards the centre, and 
there is also a correspondent increase in point of 
width. The roof-pitch of the nave has evidently 
been lowered. 

These portions are early English. 

Internally .—The doorway has a segmental head, 
having a label and a moulded jamb, and is flanked 
by a blank pointed arch on each side, answering to 
those of the exterior. 

In each arch there is a tablet, one to the memory of 
Sidney, the other to that of Joyner-Ellis. 

The quintuplet window above assumes internally the 
form of one large window, the whole being grouped 
under a bold semi-circular arch rising from detached 
banded shafts. 

The effect is fine and imposing. 

In the year 1732 a gallery was first erected, but in 
1794 the present one was built instead thereof, and 
the Organ was then removed thither from the rood- 
screen in the chancel: thus this beautiful window and 
doorway are partially concealed. 

On the front of the gallery is a painting of St. 
C’aecilia. She was a Roman lady, and lived in the 
year of our Lord 223. Tradition relates that she was 
so skilful a musician, that an angel who visited her was 
drawn down from the mansions of the blessed by the 
charms of her melody; to which circumstance Dryden 
alludes in the conclusion of his celebrated “ Ode to 
Cascilia.” 













HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


*9 


The following is a copy of a printed bill in the 
possession of Mr. John Croome, of Berkeley, who ' 
kindly favoured the Author with it:— 

“ Berkeley, Saturday, October 8 t/i, 1791. 

It having been intimated that some of the subscribers to the 
Organ have expressed a wish to hear the Instrument previous to 
the public opening of it on Tuesday next, the Rev. Mr. Hupsman, 
considering himself particularly obliged to them for their liberal 
contributions, and ever solicitous to obtain and to preserve the good 
will of his parishioners, has given the Organist such directions for 
the service of to-morrow, both in the morning and evening, as he 
hopes will give general satisfaction, 

N.B.—Should this notice be omitted to be delivered to any 
subscriber, it is requested to be placed to the account of accident, 
not of neglect.” 

The following is a copy of a letter entered in the 
book for the Ty thing of Alkington :— 

11 White Hart , Berkeley , Hpril loth , 1792. 

Sir,—I am requested to inform you that the Churchwardens 
and Gentlemen of this Parish composing this meeting, feel them¬ 
selves infinitely obliged to you for the assistance of your pencil, 
which contributes so much to adorn the front of the Organ Gallery. 
And further I am desired to say, that the beauty of the Painting 
receives additional taste from the very handsome manner in which 
you have presented it. 

And that posterity may know to whom they are indebted, I 
have received directions to record the same in the parish books. 

In the name, and at the request of the meeting, I subscribe 
myself, Sir, 

Your much obliged and obedient Servant, 

John Clark.” 


“ To Mr. Edward Pearce, 
Middlemills,” 


C 2 


















20 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


The visitor entering the church at the western 
portal finds himself in 


The Nave, 

which is spacious, arcades of unusual beauty forming a 
view terminated at the east end by a lofty chancel 
arch with a stone roodscreen across it. It is 96 feet 
long by 27 feet 3 inches wide. It was slightly repaired 
in the year 1834.-5. 

The nave itself is early English. 

There are seven arches on each side, of the most 
perfect proportion. 

The mouldings are very singular; and the label 
terminations are all heads, with different head dresses. 

The twelve clustered pillars, which support these 
beautiful arches, have many peculiarities; a Bloxam or 
a Scott would do that justice to them which the Author 
feels himself unequal to do. He would, however, ob¬ 
serve that all the capitals, except one of these pillars, 
are similar, being floriated ; the one on the south side, 
instead of floriation, has a mere round capital with nail- 
heads set at distances from each other. The label-termi¬ 
nation over this non-floriated capital has the grotesque 
device of a frog knocking two human heads together. 

The space above the arches is unusually high, and 
the north side having no clerestory windows is most 
unpleasingly bare. 

Even on the south side the clerestory windows, one 











HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 2 1 

over each arch, are very short and broad round-headed 
trefoil lancets, with a deep but not wide internal splay 
and a label over. They want both height and width 
for the space which they occupy. A single label runs 
through the whole early English portion. 

The roof is a low-pitched wooden one of Perpen¬ 
dicular date, and is a fair piece of workmanship. The 
corbels, on which it rests, are in form that of half 
a capital, supported by a head. 

“In the great high wind of Nov. 26, 1703, the 
overflow of the Severn beat down the sea-wall, where¬ 
by the waters flowed above a mile over one part of the 
parish, and did great damage to the land. It carried 
away one house, which was by the sea-side, and a 
gentleman’s stable, wherein was a horse, into the next 
ground. Twenty-six sheets of lead, were blown off 
from the middle aisle * of the church, and taken up 
all joined together, as they were on the roof; the sheets 
weighing three hundred and a half one with another.” 
— Rudder’s Gloucestershire , p. 270. 

The Aisles. 

The aisles, though of less beauty and importance 
than the other part of the church, contain two or 
three particulars worthy of notice. 

They are chiefly of the Decorated style, and each 
contains six three-light windows of simple arch tracery 
foliated, of the same kind as those which terminate 


* The Nave. 












22 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


them to the west. That on the north side is shown 
to be of later date than the south aisle by the section 
of its label, and a slight difference in the tracery. The 
north aisle has no string course beneath its windows; 
the south has a roll externally. 

The east window of the north aisle is unusually 
small and very high up in the wall, evidently to avoid 
interfering with the vestry. At the east end of the 
south aisle there are the remains of some decorated 
Sedilia, under a square-headed arch; these are coeval 
with the aisle. The window above them being short¬ 
ened, and the external string course being lowered in 
proportion, are proofs of this. 

The roofs of these aisles are of the same character 
as that of the nave. These aisles are each 96 feet 
long, the south one is 1 6\ feet wide, but the north is 
only 1 5 feet wide. 

The south entrance is a good specimen of Norman, 
but of a peculiar kind. 

It is a square-headed doorway with an arch over it, 
and a heavy roll moulding going round the opening. 
The mouldings approach to the early English, but the 
capitals are of a local character. 

Over this door is a beautiful little round window of 
geometrical and wheel tracery. 

Round windows are a Gloucestershire localism, and 
are very common in churches in this county. 

The buttresses on this south side are a tall and bold 
range without set-offs. 










HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


23 


The north entrance is through a large porch, which 
was restored in the year 1810, the upper part of 
which is a modern parapet of the Perpendicular style ; 
the lower portion, including the two doorways, is the 
Decorated. 

The arch over the outer door is of the Ogee form, 
with mouldings and slender plain shafts; the inner one 
is plain, with wave moulding. 

The vaulting is quadripartite of the same date, from ' 
corbels supported by heads. 

The north and south aisles were repaired in the year 

l * 34 S- 

The church is less rich in monumental antiquities 
than probably would have been the case if it had not 
been a frequent custom with the ancient Lords of Berke¬ 
ley to bury in their own foundation of St. Augus¬ 
tine’s, Bristol. Still the array is curious and worthy of 
notice. 

On the base of the second window of the south aisle 
are two cumbent figures, with a lamb couchant at the 
feet of each ; and on the sill of the third window of 
this aisle there is a cumbent figure similar to, though 
longer than, the other two; these do not exceed a 
yard in length. They are called by Dr. Parsons, the . 
children of Thomas Lord Berkeley, viz.:—Thomas, 
Maurice, and Edmund, who died in their infancy. 
But as these are habited as females, the Author begs 
leave to differ from this gentleman, and should say 
they were intended for Nuns. 



















24 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


Under the second arch, and opposite the above 
figures, on an altar-tomb, are the effigies of Thomas 
Lord Berkeley, and Catherine, his second wife, sculp¬ 
tured in white marble. Lord Berkeley is represented 
in the armour of the fourteenth century, charged with 
the family Coat of Arms, a mitre under his head, and a 
lion couchant at his feet; and the Lady with a head¬ 
dress of extraordinary shape and size, a cushion under 
her head, supported by an angel on each side, and 
a dog couchant at her feet. This Lord died in 1360, 
before which time the Nobles of this family were 
buried in St. Augustine’s Abbey, Bristol. Some parts 
of the Lady’s costume are worthy of notice. Over 
all she wears a mantle, under it a supertunick or surcoat , 
surmounted by a corset, then newly invented, and an 
indication of her rank.* 

On the wall of this aisle there are Tablets to the 
memories of the families of Hickes (emblazoned with 
Arms), Jones, Jenkins, Raymond, and Hooper. At the 
west end of this aisle there is a very ancient square 
stone Font, for immersion, very capacious, and lined 

* Strutt says, in his “Habits of the People of England,” page 37, 
“ Towards the conclusion of the fourteenth century the women were 
pleased with the appearance of along waist; and in order to produce that 
effect, they invented a strange disguisement, called a Corse or Corset .” 
Again he says, in page 376, “ According to the Sumptuary Laws, made in 
the fourth year of King Edward IV., no woman under the degree of a 
Knight’s wife or daughter might wear urowght Corsets And by another 
clause in the same Act, “ Corsets worked with gold were prohibited to all 
women under the rank of wife or daughter to a Lord.” Corse is derived 
from the French Corps, a body; and so called because they covered the 
greater part of the body. 









HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 25 

with lead. It is supported by four small shafts sur¬ 
rounding a large one ; a form of the highest antiquity. 
It is enclosed with painted oak railings. 

A sepulchral brass in the floor, on the south side of 
the Font, marks the resting-place of a Romish Priest. 

The wall of the north aisle is occupied by tablets of 
benefactions, and a few slabs to some of the parishioners. 

The following are copies of Benefactions:— 

First Tablet. 

Mr. John Atwood of Berkeley in 1626 gave a 
Meadow called Longbridge to the poor of the Borough 
of Berkeley of the yearly value of f 10. 10s. 

Mr. Thomas Machin of this parish in 1630 gave a 
ground lying near a meadow called Parham to the 
poor of this town of the yearly value of ^3. 10s. 

Mr. John Mallett of this parish in 1639 gave a 
ground lying near Prior’s Wood three fifth parts to the 
poor of the Tything of Ham and two fifth parts to the 
poor of this town of the yearly value of £7. 10s. 

The Bridewell House of Berkeley and a house called 
the Town House were given by an unknown Benefactor 
to the poor of this town and have been enjoyed by 
them time immemorial both together of the yearly 
value of £j. 10s. 

The Tything Barn of Ham is charged with a pay¬ 
ment to the poor of this town yearly 7s. 

John Neale , Churchwarden , 1737* 



2 6 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


Second Tablet. 

Mr. Thomas BayleyoF this parish charged a ground 
called the Stunnings lying in Halmore with the pay¬ 
ment to the poor of this town yearly i 5s. and to the 
poor of the Ty thing of Hinton 1 5s. 

Mr. Richard Everett of this parish gave the 
interest of _£io for ever to be paid to poor house¬ 
keepers of the Ty thing of Ham. 

Samuel Thurner, M.B. of Magdalen Hall, Oxon, 
in 1696 gave lands lying part in the parish of Thorn- 
bury and part in the parish of Rockhampton for the 
teaching 26 boys of this town to read and write &c. of 
the yearly value of ^15. 5 s. 

John Smith, A.M. of Magdalen Coll., Oxon, in 
1717 gave a sum of money which with ^40 given 
by the Right Honourable the Countess Dowager of 
Berkeley was laid out in lands in the parish of Berkeley 
for the teaching 1 2 boys three of this town and three 
of each Ty thing of the yearly value of £10. 1 os. 

( ‘John King , Churchwarden , 1737. 

Third Tablet. 

Thomas Hopton, Esq., in 1718 charged an estate 
lying in the parish of Littleton upon Severn in this 
county with the yearly payment of 30s. to the Minister 
of Berkeley and his successors for preaching two ser¬ 
mons one on Good Friday and the other on the 5 th of 
November and 50s. yearly to the poor of this town 









t 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 2J 

and the three Ty things in bread on the two afore¬ 
said days. 

Mrs. Bridget Vick of Berkeley in 1724 gave a 
ground called the Tyning lying in the Ty thing of 
Hinton* the profits whereof to be given in bread to 
the poor of the town and three Ty things on the 23rd 
of December of the yearly value of £4. 5s. 

Mr. Thomas Pearce of Wick in this parish in 1728 
charged an estate lying in Wick aforesaid with the 
payment of 12s. every Christmas Day to six poor men 
of the Ty thing of Alkington who regularly attend the 
Church and Sacrament. 

John Croome , Churchwarden , 1737 . 


Fourth Tablet. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Bevan of Berkeley in 1728 gave in 
money ^120 which her ’executor Mr. James Bevan 
laid out in lands and hath charged an estate called the 
Actrees lying near Berkeley Heath with the payment 
pursuant to the directions of the said Mrs. Sevan’s will 
of £3 per annum to the Minister of Berkeley for read¬ 
ing prayers weekly and £3 yearly in bread to the 
poor of the town and three Ty things on the 23rd ol 
December. 

James Fords , Churchwarden , 1737 . 


* The word Hinton ought to be Hamfallow. 













28 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

Fifth Tablet. 

Richard Tyler late of the City of Bristol Gent 
pursuant to the Will of his brother John Tyler Gent 
(both natives of this parish) in the year 1749 g ave an 
estate situate in the Tything of Hinton for the follow¬ 
ing uses as appears by a deed enrolled in Chancery in 
the year 1750, viz.—thirty shillings to be equally 
divided between the clerk and the sexton of the parish 
Church of Berkeley for ringing the Bell and attending 
Divine Service as hereinafter directed. The remain¬ 
ing part of the yearly profits to be divided between 
the Ministers of Berkeley, Cam,* Wotton-under-edge, 
Cromhall, Tortworth, Dursley, and Thornbury, for 
reading morning prayer and preaching seventeen ser¬ 
mons annually in this Church on the following days 
and during Lent on the following subjects:— 

1st—The Lent Fast. 

2nd—Atheism and Infidelity. 

3rd—The Catholic Church. 

4th—Excellency of the Church of England. 

5th—The defence of the Divinity of our Saviour. 

6th—Baptism. 

7 th— Confirmation. 

8th—Confession and Absolution. 

9th—Errors of the Church of Rome. 

10th—Enthusiasm and Superstition. 

11 th—Restitution. 

* The word Cam ought to be Slimbridge. 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


2 9 


12th—Attending Public Worship. 

i 3 th—Frequenting the Holy Communion. 

14th—Repentance. 

Sermons on the first seven subjects to be preached 
in the first year beginning on Ash-Wednesday 1750 
and on the remaining other seven in the following year 
and so alternately and successively for ever. One of 
the said Sermons to be preached by each of the above- 
mentioned Ministers on every Wednesday in Lent 
four of the other ten by the Minister of Berkeley and 
the remaining six by the respective Ministers of the 
other Parishes aforesaid on the first Wednesday in 
every succeeding month within the compass of the 
year.* 

* 14 Sermons to be preached in Lent, viz.:— 

7 one year beginning with 1750, 

7 the next year, and so on. 

14 

1 and 8 alternately by Berkeley; 

2 and 9 alternately by Slimbridge; 

And so on for ever. 

Then, i.e., after Lent, 4 Sermons by the Vicar of Berkeley, the first 
Wednesday in the month. 

Then one Sermon the first Wednesday in the month by the other six 
Clergy. 

Observe, the Lent Sermons will occupy the first Wednesdays in two 
of the months. 

7 Sermons in Lent, two of which will occupy the first Wednes¬ 
days in two months. 

4 by the Vicar of Berkeley. 

6 by the other Clergy. 

17 Sermons yearly. 

Each Minister receives now thirty shillings every Wednesday. 














30 HISTORY OF EERKELEY. 

Sixth Tablet. 

John Harvey Ollney Lieutenant Colonel of the 
South Gloucester Militia by Will J dated 3rd January 
1836 gave to the town of Berkeley the sum of ^300 
to be paid in six months after the decease of his Wife 
and to be then invested in the names of the Vicar and 
Churchwarden the interest and annual produce to be 
laid out in the purchase of Coals and Blankets to be 
distributed at Christmas annually to such poor deserv¬ 
ing persons in Berkeley as the Vicar and Churchwarden 
shall select. This Legacy became payable in July 1839 
and was then invested in the purchase of ,£324. 6s. 6d. 
three per cent, consols which now stand in the joint 
names of 

Rev. John Seton-Karr f Vicar. 

Mr. Timothy Tratman, Churchwarden. 

The other Tablets are to the memories of the fami¬ 
lies of Tratman, Pope, Pike, Bay ley, Woollright, Smith, 
Davidge, Wiltshire, Joyner, Bailey, and Giles. 

The Chancel. 

The chancel arch before alluded to is remarkably 
lofty and very obtuse, like that at the west end; it is 
probably of the same date as the nave, with which it 
responds in some details. 

The roodscreen across it is very beautiful in design. 

It is of stone, its style Perpendicular, with tracery 











HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


31 


under a four-centred arch, the spandrils being open. 
It consists of three compartments; the lower part of 
the side ones in their original state no doubt was filled 
with solid panelling, and the central one closed with 
low doors; but all this has been removed. 

On this beautiful screen are emblazoned 23 Coats of 
Arms, being the different alliances of the noble family 
of Berkeley. 

Upon this screen the present organ was erected, in 
the year 1791, but was removed to where it now is in 
1794, at a cost of ^10. 

The usual doorway to the rood-loft exists, and was 
approached on the north side by a staircase turret in 
the north aisle, now stopped up. The windows are 
irregular and of various kinds. 

On the north side is a small lancet, and an early 
Decorated three-light window. 

Below this last there are Decorated Sedilia, under a 
very elaborate and pointed arch. 

The south side is lighted by three three-light Per¬ 
pendicular windows; they were inserted in the year 
1851, in the place of three others, one of which was a 
round window. 

The great east window is a large Perpendicular one 
of nine lights under a four-centred arch, and was 
inserted in the year 1843, in the place of one of seven 
lights, and which matched the roodscreen. The roof 
is of the same character as that of the nave. 

On the walls there are tablets, some of which are 
















32 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


emblazoned with Arms, to the families of Jenner,' 
Weston, Pearce, Hop ton, Gregory, Smith, Webb, and 
Morgan. 

This chancel is 44 feet long and 25 wide. 

The east end externally has diagonal buttresses, with 
small pinnacles on the set-offs, and an open pinnacle on 
the top of each buttress. 

There are adjuncts on each side the chancel, a 
Vestry to the north, a Sepulchral Chapel of the 
Berkeleys to the south. 

The former is of the Decorated period, and is en¬ 
tered by a doorway with a foliated arch, and retains a 
fair piece of workmanship in an ancient door. It has 
an old window, and outside there is a grand diagonal 
buttress. 

The latter is the Perpendicular style, and rises from 
clustered shafts with round capitals of foliage. 

Bloxam mentions this structure in his “ Gothic 
Architecture.” 

It is divided into two parts, and is approached 
internally and externally. 

Ceiling of the Ante-Chapel. 

Centre compartment and central boss. Female Saint 
kneeling in prayer, with open book on a desk before 
her y above her, and eastward, the dove as emblem of 
the Holy Spirit. 

The Berkeley knot in spandril of doorway. 







HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


33 


In the Chapel. 

First bay of the groining, lowermost boss over the 
door, upon which is an angel holding a shield, with the 
garments of our Saviour and of three disciples. 

To the right, a monkey holding a bottle. Two 
cherubims with emblems of the crucifixion on shields— 
viz., cross, and spear, and reed; pillar and scourges. 

At opposite corners—Fox in pulpit preaching to 
geese, and shepherds watching their flocks by night, 
with an angel above. 

Four angels with musical instruments around central 
portion. 

Central —the virgin with hands folded in prayer, and 
surrounded by cherubs; over her head, an angel hold¬ 
ing a crown. 

Opposite boss to that on which is the garments of 
our Saviour, another angel holding shield, with hammer, 
nails, and crown of thorns. Central rib —God the 
Father with the fingers uplifting two angels holding a 
riband, on which are the words. Pater Noster. 

Below this to the south, on one of the bosses, is 
a mermaid with looking-glass and comb. 


Compartment nearest Altar. 

Four angels with scrolls, but no inscription to three 
of the bosses. Our Saviour in the centre, with the 
side pierced, and hands uplifted, surrounded by the 
emblems of the four evangelists. 


D 














34 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


Four bosses around, on which are a lamb, an eagle, 
an angel holding a scroll, and a beast with wings. 

Under a low fretted arch is an altar-tomb of white 
marble, upon which recline two figures of an old* * * § and 
youngt man in armour; the Arms of Berkeley on the 
coats of mail, collars of a military order round both 
their necks; the mitref under their heads, and a lion 
couchant under their feet. 

The Arms on the chancel side are charged with 
a file ofi three Lambeaux , for Lord Thomas, the Grand¬ 
son. On the side of the tomb within the chapel, are 
two rows of compartments of tabernacle work, contain¬ 
ing figures of Knights, Ecclesiastics, and the Berkeley 
Arms enclosed within quartrefoils. This monument 
was erected for James, the sixth Lord Berkeley, and 
Thomas his Grandson. 

On another altar-tomb of white marble are two 
cumbent figures; the man § in armour with the mitre 
at his feet, and the woman in a court dress with a dog 
couchant at her feet, and a cushion under the head of 
each. 

There are several marble Tablets, bearing inscrip¬ 
tions and arms to the Berkeley family. 

This chapel was built about the year 1450. The 
exterior is richly embellished in the Gothic style, and 

* James, Lord Berkeley, died October 22, 1463. 

t Lord Thomas, his Grandson, 

t The mitre is the crest of the Hardinges. 

§ Henry, Lord Berkeley, died November 26, 1613, 










HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 35 

has a very rich parapet adorned with the Tudor flower, 
not pierced, but employed as a sort of pannelling. 

There are the same open pinnacles as at the east 
end, but of a richer sort, exhibiting in one case the 
figure of St. George subduing the Dragon. The win¬ 
dows externally have Ogee canopies. 

The Author having now completed his description 
of Berkeley Church, it may not be uninteresting to 
many readers to know something about St. George and 
the Dragon. # 


* This Saint suffered martyrdom for the sake of his religion, a.d. 290. 

The legends relate several strange stories of him, which are so common 
they need not here be related. The Author will only give a short account 
how he came to be so much esteemed in England. 

When Robert, Duke of Normandy, son of William the Conqueror, was 
fighting against the Turks, and laying siege to the famous City of Antioch, 
which was expected to be relieved by the Saracens, St. George appeared 
with an innumerable army coming down from the hills, all clad in white, 
with a red cross on his banner, to reinforce the Christians v this so terri¬ 
fied the Infidels, that they fled, and left the Christians in possession of 
the town. 

This story made St. George extraordinarily famous in those times, and 
to be esteemed a patron, not only of the English, but of Christianity 
itself. 


D 2 
















Chapter III. 


THE CHURCHYARD. 

“ How many a bitter word ’twould hush, 

How many a pang ’twould save, 

If life more precious held those ties 

Which sanctify the grave.”— Landon. 

The churchyard, where so many of 

“ The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep,” 

* ■* * 

is a large piece of ground, and densely crowded with 

gravestones. 

Among the epitaphs are the following singular ones: 

* 

DEAN SWIFT’S INSCRIPTION ON THE EARL OF SUFFOLK’S JESTER :- 

“ Here lies the Earl of Suffolk’s Fool, 

Men called him Dicky Pearce ; 

His folly serv’d to make folks laugh, 

When wit and mirth were scarce. 

Poor Dick, alas! is dead and gone $ 

What signifies to cry ? 

Dickies enough are still behind, 

To laugh at by and by. 

Buried June 18, 1728, Aged 63 years.” 














HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


37 


This epitaph was composed by the celebrated Dean 
Swift, Chaplain to Charles, Earl of Berkeley; and was 
originally on a common head-stone, but the present 
altar-tomb was erected instead thereof in 1823. 


“ Here lyeth Thomas Peirce, whom no man taught, 

Yet he in Iron, Brasse, and Silver wrought j 
He Jacks, and Clocks, and Watches (with art) made, 
And mended too when others’ worke did fade. 

Of Berkeley five tymes Mayor, this Artist was, 

And yet this Mayor, this Artist, was but grasse. 
When his owne Watch was downe on the last day, 

He that made Watches, had not made a key 
To winde it up, but uselesse it must lie, 

Until he rise againe no more to die. 

He deceased the 25 of Feb., 1665, .^Etatis 77.’’ 


“ Here lies a Woman by all the good esteem’d, 
Because they prov’d her really what she seem’d ; 
If thou wou’dst die as highly priz’d as she, 

Add to thy virtue true sincerity.” 


“ How certain and uncertain is the life of man, 
Certain to die, but yet uncertain when j 
In this we have an instance before our eyes, 
How soon a strong man sickens and he dies.” 


« Religion, honesty, and truth, ever by thee regarded : 

Adorn’d thy life, O happy youth, thou’rt now in heaven rewarded.” 



















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


“ Pain was my portion, 
Physick was my food, 
Groans was my devotion, 
Drugs did me no good ; 

Christ was my physician, 
He knew which was best, 
To ease me of my pain, 
And take my soul to rest.’' 


“ Afflictions sore long time I bore, 
Physicians were in vain ; 

Till Christ my Chief did give relief, 
To ease me of my pain.” 


“ Long night and day a bearing pain, 
To wait for cure was all in vain 5 
In my prime, God thought it best, 
To ease my pain and give me rest.” 


“ All you that come my grave to see, 

In dust I ly and so must thee, 

Therefore take care, live righteous still, 
Then welcome death come when it will.” 


Rest gentle shade ! in peaceful slumber lie, 

Till the last trump proclaim salvation nigh ; 

Then joyful rise, shake off this cumbrous load, 
Hail the bright morn! and prostrate hail thy God 


“ Wife and children, pray agree, 

Serve the Lord and follow me ; 

My time is come, my days are spent, 
The Lord did call and home I went.” 














HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


<£ A tender Wife and Mother dear, 
A quiet neighbour resteth here.” 


“ So brittle is the life of man, 

So soon it doth decay; 

When all the glories of this world, 
Must pass and fade away. 

The old must die we all agree, 

Likewise the young you plainly see ; 
Therefore prepare, make no delay, 

For no man knows the fatal day.” 


“ Lord, when our stage of life is run, 
May we obtain the prize 5 
And like the daily setting sun, 

Go down again to rise.” 


(i Farewell vain world, I’ve known enough of thee, 
And now am careless what thou sayest of me; * 
Thy smiles I court not, nor thy frowns I fear, 

My cares are past, my head lies quiet here ; 

What faults you’ve seen in me take care to shun, 
And look at home, enough there’s to be done.” 


“ How swift the shuttle flies that weaves thy shroud. 


“ Remember me as you pass by, 
As you are now so once was I ; 
As I am now so you must be, 
Therefore prepare to follow me.” 




















4 ° 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


“ Here lies a chaste and prudent wife, 
Who in her lifetime hated strife $ 

A loving wife and tender mother, 
’Tis hard to find out such another,” 


“ Meek and gentle was her spirit, 
Prudence did her life adorn ; 
Modest, she disclaimed all merit— 
Tell me, am not I forlorn ? 

My body I to earth resign, 

My soul to Providence divine.” 


“ She took the cup to sip, 

Too bitter was to drain ; 

She merely put it from her lip, 
And went to sleep again.” 


“ He was thy son—thine only son, 
More dear than all beneath the sun : 
Weep—if thy tears will give relief, 
They may assuage a widow’s grief $ 
Yet do not at his death repine, 

But let the will of God be thine.” 


TO FIRST HUSBAND. 

iC Lo here in grave my husband dear is laid, 

He was a loving father kind indeed ; 

So dear a friend so soon to lose ’tis hard, 

But heaven to obtain is his reward.” 

TO SECOND HUSBAND. 

“ A Husband, a Father, and a Friend ; a Father 
To the Fatherless, and a Friend to the Widow.” 







HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 4 1 

“ From a child brought up on the billow, 

His home was the fathomless deep j 
But now the cold earth is his pillow, 

And sound and unbroken his sleep. 

The winds and the waves cannot shake him j 
The tempest unheard shall arise, 

Till the blast of the trumpet awake him 5 
And call him in haste to the skies.” 


“ High blustrous winds and lofty waves 
Have tossed me to and fro $ 

But now at least by God’s decree, 

I harbour here below ; 

At anchor now I safely ride, 

For here I rest and sleep ; 

Once more again I must set sail, 

Our Saviour Christ to meet.” 


ii Sweet Innocent too pure on Earth to stay, 
To bliss eternal thou hast led the way* 
Oh ! let us hope thy happiness to share, 
May thy angelic spirit guide us there. 

Ere sin could blight or sorrow frown, 
Death came with friendly care, 

The opening bud to heaven conveyed, 
And bade it blossom there.” 


“ Stop Traveller ! Oh ! pause a moment here ! 

I crave no sigh ! no sympathetic tear ! 

Nay pity not—thy tears forbear to shed : 

They ’re vain—nay useless to th’ unfeeling dead ! 
View but my fate ! and thou wilt view thy own ! 
Time flies apace—thy days will soon be flown! 






42 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


Reader ! art thou prepar’d to die ? Oh ! say ! 

Art thou prepar’d to meet the judgment day? 

Has thy past life been spent in joy and mirth ? 
Have thy past thoughts been solely bent on earth ? 
Ah ! whence that sigh ? does fear thy bosom fill ? 
Art thou then conscious of impending ill ? 

Reader ! begone ! Oh ! tread that path I trod— 
Pursue it—and thy soul prepare for God.” 


On an altar-tomb, near the north wall of the church, 
emblazoned with the following Coat of Arms:—ar. a 
fesse nebulee between three trefoils, slipped, gu., are 
these two epitaphs to the family of Thorpe, of Wans- 
well:— 

“ Here lyeth the body of Mary Thorpe, second daughter 
of William Thorpe, Esq., who dyed February the ist, 1669, 
Aged 22.” 

“Here lyeth the body of George Thorpe, Esq., who dyed 
July the 12th, 1672, Aged 32.” 


The lime trees were planted in the year 1753, by 
Thomas Clark. 

The pillars and gates at the north entrance were 
erected in 1838, by Edwin Drinkwater Ghostley and 
Alfred Mayo, both natives of this parish. 

This churchyard was closed for twenty years (vaults 
excepted) on ist January, 1857. The last interment 
was on 31st December, 1856, viz:— 

“Margaret Browning, Widow, Berkeley, Aged 71.” 












HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 43 

The New Burial-ground. 

It was one of the wise practices of all ancient 
nations to dispose carefully of their dead. Some burnt 
them, that no mephitic vapours should arise to injure 
the living. By others, the art of preservation was 
carried to a high degree of perfection; while all such 
as buried their dead, were compelled by their laws 
to inter them without the gates of their towns and 
cities. 

Among the Jews, fields seem generally to have been 
specially appropriated for this purpose. Abraham was 
buried with Sarah, his wife, in the cave of Macpelah, 
in the field of Ephron (Gen. xx. and xxiii.); and 
Uzziah, king of Judah, was buried with his fathers in 
the field which pertained to the kings (2 Chron xxvi.). 

Among the early Christians, the burial of the dead 
outside the walls was emblematical of their passage 
from this world to their new kingdom of eternal joy. 

The bad effects of burying within limited spaces in 
populous places is too notorious to be denied; and an 
annoyance being felt from the resting-place of our fore¬ 
fathers, it is a great source of congratulation that a new 
burying-ground has been formed here. 

The piece of land added to the churchyard was 
given by the late Earl Fitzhardinge, but the walls, 
drainage, &c., &c., were executed at the expense of 
the parish. It was consecrated, though in an unfinished 
state, by the Right Rev. Charles Baring, D.D., Lord 













44 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol (translated to the See 
of Durham, 1861), on Friday, the 2nd day of January, 
1857. 

This ground not being ready, the dead were buried 
at Stone, near Berkeley, until February the 4th, on 
which day the first interment was made here, viz:— 

“Swinbourne Hadley, Purton, Aged 10 months." 

Berkeley Burial Board. 

Notice is hereby given, that a meeting of the rate¬ 
payers of the parish of Berkeley will be held in the 
Vestry Room of the Parish Church of Berkeley, on 
Friday, the 6th day of February next, at 12 o’clock 
at noon, for the purpose of approving of the salary, 
wages, and allowances appointed for, and to be paid to 
the clerk, officers, and servants of the Burial Board for 
the said Parish of Berkeley, and for other special busi¬ 
ness connected with the said Burial Board. 

William Smith , ) 7 , . 

_ >C hurchwaraens. 
lhomas Pearce , J 

Dated, this i%th day of January , 1857. 


THE TOWER. 

The present tower stands at a distance of 146 feet 
from the church, on the north side of the churchyard, 
and occupies the same site as its predecessor. It was 
built in 1753, by Mr. Clark, at a cost of £7 40 ; and. 
























































































































HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


45 


to judge from an old picture in the Castle, it must be 
a fair imitation of the former one. 

It is a square, massive, and venerable structure, and 
has open battlements and turrets. It is 76 feet 3 inches 
high, including the parapet which is in height 6 feet 
6 inches; and 27 feet 10 inches wide at the base, 
including the buttresses, without them 20 feet 10 
inches; but the parapet is 22 feet 11 inches wide. 

It contains six bells, which bear the following 
inscriptions:— 


I.—Rev. J. Seton-Karr, Vicar; T. Tratman, J. Alpass, J. Pick, 
R. Giles, C: Wardens. 1842. T. Mears, Fee 1, 

II.—The same. 

IV. —The same. 

III.—God save the King. Abra : Rudhall. 1700. 

V. —Richard Palmer, Joseph Cole, George Bushell, William 

Burkcomb, Churchwardens. 1772. Abra. Rudhall, 
Bell founder. 

VI. —Rev. Caleb Carrington, Vicar; John Rudhall, Glocester, 

Fee** 1808. Daniel Marklove, William Jones, Wil¬ 
liam Ponting, Eli Gazard, Churchwardens. 


Bells, in Popish times, were baptized, anointed, exor¬ 
cised, and blest by the Bishop; whereupon the vulgar 
believed in their power to drive off the devil and evil 
spirits, to calm storms and tempests, and to perform 
numerous other prodigies. It was also common to give 
them the names of Saints, and to ornament them with 
verses. 

The old custom of ringing the curfew-bell at eight 











4 6 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


o’clock every night, from October ioth to March 25 th, 
yearly, is kept up here. 

The curfew-bell was so called because it was rung 
by a law of William the Conqueror, that all persons 
should then cover their lights and fires, and go to bed. 
Our Historians generally tell us that this Monarch was 
so jealous of the common people of England entering 
into cabals against his government, that he ordered all 
lights and fires to be extinguished in the houses upon 
the ringing of a certain bell, called the curfew-bell, 
suppressed by King Henry I. The ascribed impo¬ 
sition of the curfew custom, as a specimen of the 
Conqueror’s rigid sway, merits but little credence. 
Thomson has thus described this supposed act of 
tyranny:— 

“ The shiv’ring wretches, at the curfew sound, 

Dejected sunk into their sordid beds, 

And, through the mournful gleam of better times, 

Mus’d sad, or dreamt of better.” 

Gray’s Elegiac mention of the curfew is as familiar 
as “ household words.” 

“ The curfew tolls the knell of parting day.” 

The clock was purchased and put up in 1765, and 
its face painted and gilded in 1783. 
















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


47 


THE VICARAGE. 

From an ancient terrier of the parish of Berkeley, 
bearing date the 9th of May, 1682, the Author has 
extracted the following entry:— 

“ Imprimis.—There is a vicarage-house, with a brew- 
house, and an orchard commonly called The Vicarage 
Close, containing between three or four acres, more or 
less; there are also four acres belonging to the Vicar, 
in a common meadow called Parham ; also the herbage 
of the churchyard; the mounds of the churchyard to 
be kept in repair by the parish of Berkeley, the parish 
of Hill, and the Right Honourable the Earl of Berkeley, 
viz., the parish of Hill for the space of twenty-one 
yards; the Earl of Berkeley that part thereof next the 
Little Park; and the parish of Berkeley to maintain 
the residue of such mounds.” 

This vicarage is still standing; but is and has been 
for the last thirty-five years in a very dilapidated state, 
and in every way unsuited for the residence of a 
gentleman. 

The Rev. John Seton-Karr, the vicar, for the last 
few years, has in consequence been obliged to reside in 
a house near the church, called Chantry Cottage, from 
its having once been the residence of the Chantry- 
priests. 

In this vicarage-house Dr. Edward Jenner, the cele¬ 
brated discoverer of vaccination, was born May 17, 
1749. 

















4 8 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


i 


His father was the Rev. Stephen Jenner, of Slim- 
bridge. Rector of Rockhampton, and Vicar of Berkeley 
from 1729 till his death in December, 1754. 

His mother was Sarah, daughter of the Rev. H. 
Head, Vicar of Berkeley from 1691 to 1728. She 
died in October, 1754. 

Like every other discovery, vaccination was received 
with ridicule and contempt. Even religion and the 
Bible were made engines of attack against the doctor. 

From these Errhman, of Frankfort, deduced his chief 
grounds of accusation against the new practice ; and he 
gravely attempted to prove from quotations from the 
prophetical parts of Scripture, and the writings of the 
Fathers of the Church, that “ Vaccination was the real 
Antichrist! ” 

The benefits which Jenner conferred upon mankind 
at last became universally admitted, and rendered his 
memory immortal. 

In 1788, Dr. Jenner married Catherine, younger 
daughter of Robert Fitzhardinge Kingscote, Esq., of 
' Kingscote, in this county; and about 1792 he took 
possession of Chantry Cottage above mentioned, where 
he died suddenly , January, 26, 1823, and was buried in 
j the chancel of Berkeley Church. He left a son, Robert 
Fitzhardinge Jenner, Esq., who also died suddenly at 
Chantry Cottage, unmarried, and was buried in his 
! father’s vault, March 24, 1854; and a daughter, 
Catherine, who married Mr. Bedford, and, dying, left 
an only daughter, heiress to her grandfather. 












HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


49 


MEMORANDA. 

The following is a copy of an entry made in the 
churchwardens’ book for the Ty thing of Ham :— 

“ April 4th, 1763. 

It is agreed by, and with the consent of, the other 
two tythings, that the ten shillings a-piece, allowed by 
each tything for ringing, shall not be paid to the ringers, 
unless they ring, on the days appointed by payment, to 
the full satisfaction of the minister and churchwardens, 
and chime the vicar every Sunday to church, both 
mornings and evenings. 

HENRY KNOX. 

THOS. HICKES. 

JOHN KING. 

RICHD. CROOME. 

JAMES PHILLIPS. 

NICHOLAS CORNOCK. 

WM. WADE. 

THOMAS WILTSHIRE. 

ROBERT PEARCE. 

JOHN JONES. 

JAMES WATTS. 

N. HICKES.” 

The following are copies of entries made in the 
churchwardens’ book for the Tything of Alkington :— 

“ 1765. To a new clock in the Tower, £5. 5s. 

Rob 1, Clark’s bill for putting up the same, £2. 15s. 

Mr. Wm. Bennett , Churchwarden .” 


E 






















5 ° 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


“Be it remembered, that in the night on 23rd of 
April, 1777, Berkeley Church was robbed of the 
Communion Plate to the value of sixty pounds. 

And it was agreed some time after in the same year 
to purchase a sett of new Plate for the Communion, at 
the expence of the three Tythings. 

The description of the new Plate bought in 1777 :— 

1 Large Flaggon, 1 Plate or Patten, 2 Fluted Gilt 
Cups. The whole cost £36. 17s. 4^d., and was all 
Engrav’d with this Inscription :— 

Berkeley Communion Plate, 1777. 

Joseph Sharp , Churchwarden , 1777.” 

“ By cash for prosecuting Hugh Price, Chimney 
Sweeper, for stealing the Communion Plate out of 
the Parish Church of Berkeley and expences thereon, 

£11. 5s. 1 id. 

Robert Cole , Churchwarden , 1780.” 

“To one-third of a bill to William Joyner, for 
taking of Hugh Price and boy and William Smith for 
and on suspition of stealing the Communion Plate out 
of the Church, and attending the Assizes, £1. is. 

To expences of the day, £1. 8s. 

Robert Cole , Churchwarden , 1781.” 

“1783. Rich d - Goodman for painting and gilding 
the face of the clock, £ 1. is. 

Mr. Thomas Morse , Churchwarden .” 














HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 5 I 

The number of Communicants at the Holy Com¬ 
munion at Berkeley and Stone in the reign of Ed¬ 
ward VI. is given by the Royal Commission for 
Chantries, in the second year of his reign, in their 
report and certificate :— 

The number at the church at Berkeley, one thou¬ 
sand one hundred and seventeen. At Stone Church, 
two hundred and thirteen. 


A LIST OF SOME OF THE VICARS OF 

BERKELEY. 

John Trevisa, of Cornwall, who translated the Bible 
into English at the request of Thomas Berkeley, fourth 
lord of that name, was presented to the vicarage of 
Berkeley by this lord. Trevisa died in the year 1409. 


DATES. 

INCUMBENTS. 

PATRONS. 

1575 

John Norbrock. 

Queen Elizabeth. 

1586 

William Green. 

William Sprin. 

1639 

Thomas Tucker. 

Edward Chetwynd. 


1668 

Richard Saffin, M.A. 

Chapter of Bristol. 


Jerome Gregory. 

Earl of Berkeley. 

169I 

Henry Head, M.A. 

Ditto. 

1728 

Ralph Webb, M.A. 

Ditto. 

I729 

Stephen Jenner, M.A. 

Ditto. 

1755 

George Chas. Black, M.A. 

Ditto. 

I 75 8 -9 

Henry Knox, M.A. 

Ditto. 

I77I-2 

Augustus Thos. Hupsman. 

Ditto. 

i 799 ~ i 8 oo 

Caleb Carrington. 

Ditto. 

1837 

H. Prouse Jones, M.A. 

Baron Segrave. 

1839 

John Seton-Karr, B.A. 

D 2 

Ditto. 


















5 2 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


BURIALS IN THE PARISH OF BERKELEY 

OF PERSONS WHO DIED 80 YEARS OF AGE AND UPWARDS. 


1813. 

There were 43 burials in 1813. 

Elizabeth Tratman, North Nibley, March z, 81. 
Mary Andrews, Berkeley, April 24, 80. 

Mary Millard, Woodford, August 25, 82. 

Giles Daniels, Berkeley, November 14, 81. 

1814. 

There were 38 burials in the year 1814. 

Mary Wilts, Bevington, February 16, 84. 

James Taylor, Wick, September 4, 82. 

1815. 

There were 41 burials in the year 1815. 

Jane Denly, Alkington, November 24, 93. 

Samuel Pegler, Berkeley, December 13, 83. 

1816. 

There were 40 burials in the year 1816. 

Mary Ford, Ham, February 28, 90. 

Hesther Purnell, Newport, May 15, 84. 
















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


S3 


1817. 

There were 36 burials in the year 1817. 

Josiah Fryar, Pur ton, March 13, 84. 

Witsun Yearsley, Berkeley, October 26, 89. 
Leonard Eding, Bevington, November 4, 80. 

1818. 

There were 66 burials in the year 1818. 

Anthony Merret, Clapton, January 10, 81. 

Hannah Ponting, Berkeley, June 9, 82. 

Mary Latch, Wotton-under-Edge, September 27, 83. 

1819. 

There were 48 burials in the year 1819. 

Anthony Wiltshire, Newport, January 20, 83. 
Catherine Wood, Sugar Loaf, January 23, 92. 

Sarah Latch, Berkeley, May 12, 83. 

1820. 

There were 58 burials in the year 1820. 

Edward Curtis, Sanigar, January 26, 98. 

Thomas Woolwright, Berkeley, March 3, 92. 

Mary Browning, Pockington, March 20, 83. 

Anne Cox, Berkeley, June 12, 84. 

1821. 

There were 49 burials in the year 1821. 

Sarah Nicholas, Eastington, March 22, 89. 











54 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

1822. 

There were 48 burials in the year 1822. 

Jane Nelms, Berkeley Heath, March 3, 82. 
Hannah Smith, Berkeley, May 26, 80. 

1823. 

There were 53 burials in the year 1823. 

Sarah Curtis, Sanigar, January 4, 90. 

Betty Monday, Bevington, February 18, 88. 
Ann Dorney, Halmore, June 17, 80. 

Thomas Benett, Berkeley Heath, July 11, 85. 
Mary Meddlemore, Berkeley, December 21, 84. 

1824. 

There were 52 burials in the year 1824. 

Christian Pick, Bevington, January 6, 80. 

Mary Barge, Alkington, May 12, 92. 

Nathaniel Cook, Berkeley, July 11, 81. 

Sarah Neale, Berkeley, August 7, 83. 

Elizabeth King, Newport, September 16, 88. 
Mary Woodbourne, Sanigar, September 18, 97. 

1825. 

There were 51 burials in the year 1825. 

Sarah Cole, Ham, May 1 5, 80. 

Mary Rickards, Wirewood Green, July 8, 82. 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


I 826. 

There were 68 burials in the year 1826. 

Elizabeth Croome, Bush Street, September 10 
Mary Marsh, Lorwinth, October 23, 88. 
Thomas Baker, Berkeley, November 12, 82. 
Anne King, Ham, December 22, 98. 

1827. 

There were 65 burials in the year 1827. 

John Till, Bevington, February 27, 80. 
William Cordy, Purton, June 4, 80. 

John Tratman, Breadstone, July 11, 92. 

Mary Longdun, Leather Bottle, November 23 
John Griffin, Ham, December 13, 84. 

1828. 

There were 66 burials in the year 1828. 

Mathew Church, Berkeley, March 10, 83. 
Mary Pead, Ham, April 20, 91. 

Rachael Croome, Newport, May 23, 82. 
James Wickham, Berkeley, May 25, 84. 

Mary Pearce, Berkeley, September 11, 90. 
Anne Tanner, Ham, October 10, 82. 

1829. 

There were 63 burials in the year 1829. 
Elizabeth Norman, Berkeley, January 28, 85. 














56 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


Elizabeth Edwards, Newport, February 28, 80. 
Thomas Merrett, the Park, March 28, 83. 
Martha Spillman, Berkeley, April 5, 80. 

Thomas Reynolds, Berkeley, April 16, 86. 
Samuel Price, Alkington, May 28, 84. 

Mary Cornock, Alkington, June 15, 81. 

Abraham Gazard, Stock, August 28, 81. 

James Cornock, Alkington, December 22, 82. 

1830. 

There were 60 burials in the year 1830. 

Thomas Gabb, Lorwinth, January 8, 86. 

Mary Price, Bevington, January 24, 84. 

Mary Millard, Bevington, January 24, 86. 
Nathaniel Browning, Woodford, February 10, 81. 
William Pain, Berkeley, March 14, 85. 

Mary Malpas, Berkeley Heath, April 4, 92. 

Anne Pick, Ham, April 25, 82. 

Mary Brown, Michaelwood, July 12, 87. 

Thomas Carpenter, Newport, July 18, 82. 
Deborah Haviland, Sharpness Point, July 25, 82. 
Sarah Watts, the Park, December 16, 92. 
Elizabeth Hupsman, Berkeley, December 31, 89. 

1831. 

There were 57 burials in the year 1831. 

Joseph Page, Newport, February 19, 80. 

Jane Merrett, Berkeley, May 22, 82. 
















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


57 


Betty Merrett, Berkeley, June i 5, 80. 

James Pearce, Ham, August 1, 81. 

Edward Wynne, Bevington, September 8, 82. 
John Dennis, Newport, December 25, 88. 

1832. 

There were 58 burials in the year 1832. 

Ann Smith, Berkeley, July 11, 86. 

John Crump, Weatenhurst, July 24, 87. 

Ann Humphries, Berkeley, November 8, 80. 
Mary Howell, Hinton, December 17, 87. 
Anthony Kingscott, Halmore, December 30, 86. 

1 

‘833- 

There were 72 burials in the year 1833. 

William Cornock, Blanchworth, January 2, 83. 
Mary Andrews, Brown’s Mill, January 31, 87. 
Elizabeth Griffin, Clapton, June 16, 86. 

1834. 

There were 58 burials in the year 1834. 

Daniel Marklove, Berkeley, January 27, 82. 
James Phillips, Ham, February 12, 82. 

Lydia Kitheroe, Woodford, March 2, 85* 

Sarah Creese, Purton, March 15, 90. 

Sarah Cornock, Aust, June 5, 86. 

Mary Price, Berkeley, June 12, 81. 

Sarah Jackson, Halmore, December 21, 80. 
William Tiley, Ham, December 21, 80. 



5 « 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


1835- 

There were 55 burials in the year 1835. 

Elizabeth Caston, Sanigar, February 10, 81. 
Betty King, Berkeley, March 10, 91. 

Hannah Lewis, Ham, June 9, 93. 

Anthony Stone, Berkeley, November 1, 80. 
William Tanner, Ham, December 22, 80. 

1836. 

There were 57 burials in the year 1836. 

John Parskryv, Berkeley, February 4, 80. 

William Ricketts, Woodford, March 15, 82. 
Robert Glastonbury, Berkeley, November 9, 84. 
Sarah Gabb, Cam, December 9, 88. 

Catherine Norman, Berkeley, December 30, 88. 

1837- 

There were 71 burials in the year 1837. 

Rose Cornock, Cockshut, January 5, 82. 

Sarah Jones, Berkeley, January 8, 87. 

Edward Cook, Wanswell, January 10, 80. 
Richard Barrett, Bevington, March 19, 85. 

John Butts, Berkeley, June 26, 83. 

1838. 

There were 59 burials in the year 1838. 

Daniel Lewis, Ham, January 16, 85. 

Elizabeth Mason, Newport, March 1, 84. 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


59 


Mary Luce, Berkeley, March 4, 83. 

James Hinder, Halmore, April 1, 84. 

William Williams, Crossways, August 16, 80. 
Thcfrnas Hood, Berkeley, August 31, 83. 

William Mann, Berkeley Heath, September 20, 86. 
George Hughes, Clapton, September 26, 86. 

Sarah Smith, Berkeley, November 7, 86. 

Ann Phillips, Thornbury, December 21, 88. 

1839. 

There were 66 burials in the year 1839. 

Betty Cornock, Blanchworth, March 2, 80. 

Ann Taylor, Berkeley, May 10, 83. 

Mary Gainer, Swanley, September 7, 88. 

Robert Humphries, Berkeley, September 26, 85. 

1840. 

There were 75 burials in the year 1840. 

Sarah Haines, Mobley, March 13, 80. 

Job Dimery, Wanswell, March 18, 80. 

Sarah Joyner-Ellis, Berkeley, April 11, 95. 

Mary Hill, Breadstone, April 15, 97. 

William Arthurs, Thornbury Union, May 19, 80. 
Thomas Tuck, Michaelwood, May 23, 80. 
Elizabeth Tuck, St. Michael’s Wood, June 26, 80. 
Anne Alpass, Wanswell, September 2, 88. 


End of First Book . 

















60 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

Burials from Second Register Book for Berkeley. 

1841. 

There were 68 burials in the year 1841. 

Robert Norman, Berkeley, January 5, 85. 

Elizabeth Purnell, Berkeley, January 27, 86. 
Nicholas Jones, Berkeley, January 29, 85. 

Mary Hale, Heathfield, June 20, 82. 

Sarah Barge, Ham, December 10, 80. 

1842. 

There were 49 burials in the year 1842. 

Sarah Thayer, Butler’s Farm, January 24, 81. 

Hester Heaven, Newport, May 1, 88. 

Thomas Hickes, Berkeley, July 23, 92. 

1 843. 

There were 66 burials in the year 1843. 

Betty Dowall, Berkeley, January 15, 88. 

Hannah Nash, Bevington, January 19, 82. 

Martha Wicks, Woodford, February 23, 81. 

Sally Croome, Breadstone, March 21, 93. 

Ann Palser, Thornbury Union, August 18, 80. 
Rhoda Phillpott, Berkeley, December 6, 82. 

Susanna Fryer, Hinton, December 13, 82. 

Thomas Workman, Thornbury Union, Decem¬ 
ber 22, 88. 











HISTORY OF EERKELEY. 


6 I 


1844. 

There were 86 burials in the year 1844. 

Ann Fryer, Brookend, February 2, 84. 

Sarah Cole, Stone, February 28, 84. 

Samuel W orkman, Thornbury Union, February 2 8,80. 
Mary Summers, Berkeley Heath, March 12, 82. 
Elizabeth Smith, Framilode, May 22, 89. 

Sarah Mason, St. Michaelwood, August 7, 82. 
Thomas Merrett, Purton, August 12, 86. 

Henry Lewis, Woodford, September 21, 83. 
Thomas Hinder, Berkeley Heath, October 18, 84. 
Anne Williams, Berkeley, October 26, 84. 

Mary Watts, Ham, December 12, 89. 

1845. 

There were 51 burials in the year 1845. 

Thomas Yearsley, Thornbury Union, January 9, 90. 
Molly James, Ham, April 7, 84. 

Joshua Ball, Hinton, September 9, 85. 

James Lane, Newport, December 28, 85. 

1 846. 

There were 49 burials in the year 1 846. 

Ann Wilks, Newport, March 8, 86. 

Solomon Philpot, Berkeley, April 28, 82. 

Thomas Pearce, Ham, June 4, 88. 

Mary Smith, World’s End Farm, July 4, 82. 

James Mallett, Berkeley, September 2, 96. 

Sarah Parslow, Berkeley, November 14, 84. 










6z 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


1847. 

There were 64 burials in the year 1847. 

Elizabeth Knight, Berkeley, January 29, 84. 

Sarah Beaven, Berkeley, January 31, 92. 

Mary Bence, Berkeley Heath, February 7, 85. 
Thomas Neale, Berkeley, March 19, 80. 

Ashlield Shipway, Heathfield, March 21, 99. 

Betty Stone, Halmore, May 13, 84. 

Anne Hughes, Clapton, June 27, 83. 

George Williams, Berkeley, July 24, 84. 

Samuel Greening, Berkeley, September 24, 84. 
George Charrett, Thornbury Union, November 21, 
84* 


1848. 

There were 71 burials in the year 1848. 

James Phillips, Wanswell, March 9, 83. 
Samuel Munday, Ham, June 7, 83. 

Mary Ruell, Berkeley, June 23, 82. 

Hannah Dix, Berkeley, July 11, 82. 

Sarah Williams, Berkeley, August 17, 90. 
George Gazard, Wick, September 22, 86. 

1849. 

There were 81 burials in the year 1849. 
Hannah Allen, Ham, January 30, 82. 







HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


6 3 


Ann King, Lynch, February i, 85. 

Susannah Hulbert, Clapton, Feb. 28, 90. 
Edward Canston, Newport, March 4, 84. 
Esther Kingscote, Ham, March 31, 85. 

Ann Hinder, Berkeley Heath, May 11, 94. 
Phoebe Butt, Berkeley, May 24, 86. 

John Mills, Clapton, June 12, 88. 

Hester Merrett, Ham, June 22, 90. 

Robert Allen, Ham, July 12, 87. 

1850. 

There were 66 burials in the year 1850. 

Hester Hill, Berkeley, January 16, 94. 

Hannah Gainer, Cam, February 3, 95, 

Susan Poole, Berkeley, April 4, 91. 

William Jenkins, Woodford, April 5, 80. 

Sarah Price, Stock, April 24, 86. 

Daniel Deane, Dursley, April 25, 89. 

John Creed, Berkeley, June 16, 81. 

Mary Payne, Thornbury Union, October 7, 80. 
Mary Long, Mobley, November 9, 87. 

Ann Mundy, Berkeley Heath, December 10, 80. 

1851. 

There were 60 burials in the year 1851. 

Lydia Sanigar, Blackhole, July 7, 81. 

Sarah Mallett, Berkeley, August 1, 96. 



6 4 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


1852. 

There were 50 burials in the year 1852. 

Elizabeth Dimerv, Hogsdown, January 8, 84. 
James Grafton, Thornbury Union, Feb. 26, 80. 
Daniel Ruther, Ham, March 3, 87. 

John Pick, Vine Farm, June 7, 100. 

Sophia Taylor, Wick, December, 11, 82. 


1853- 

There were 68 burials in the year 1853. 

William Smith, Berkeley, March 10, 90. 
Thomas Gale, Wanswell, April 3, 92. 

Daniel Nelms, Berkeley Heath, June 5, 84. 
Rhoda Perkins, Woodford, July 13, 80. 

Thomas Alpass, Wanswell, December 3, 97. 
Deborah Lewis, Berkeley, December 25, 86. 

1854. 

There were 43 burials in the year 1854. 

Hannah Bishop, Ham, July 27, 84. 

Jonah Munday, Clapton, September 17, 83. 
Thomas Smith, Halmore, September 18, 82. 
Hannah Croker, Breadstone, September 27, 86. 
Richard Browning, Halmore, December 10, 84. 











HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


65 


1855. 

There were 80 burials in the year 1855. 

Ann Daw, Crawless, February 21, 81. 

Naomi Hopkins, Berkeley, May 20, 80. 

Betty Franklin, Ham, May 30, 87. 

Henry Matthews, Wanswell, August 4, 82. 
Jonah Woodward, Halmore, December 6, 89. 


1856. 

There were 54 burials in the year 1856. 

Thomas Griffiths, Berkeley, March 24, 85. 
Tracey Bow, Thornbury Union, June 30, 82. 

1857. 

There were 64 burials in the year 1857. 

Mary Woolright, Berkeley, January 12, 85. 
Hannah Harris, Woodford, April 23, 80. 
Hannah Wilkins, Woodford, June 30, 80. 
Samuel Harris, Stone, September 13, 83. 

Ann Trotman, Berkeley, October 18, 85. 
Sarah Bennett, Berkeley, Nov. 15, 84. 
Elizabeth Humphreys, Ham, December 6, 83. 


F 
















66 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

1858. 

There were 54 burials in the year 1858. 

John Taylor, Wanswell, January 13, 81. 

Hester Ruther, Wanswell, March 10, 92. 

Ann Ruther, Mobley, March 12, 83. 

Mary Prewett, Berkeley, March 16, 85. 

William Humphreys, Ham, May 5, 81. 

Frances Matthews, Wanswell, September 12, 82. 

1859. 

There were 50 burials in the year 1859. 

George Dash, Ham, March 20, 85. 

Ann Mundy, Blissbury, August 4, 86. 

Hester Webb, Purton, November 30, 99. 

1860. 

There were 67 burials in the year i860. 

Robert Ruther, Berkeley, January 3, 84. 

William Reynolds, Berkeley, February 3, 82. 

Sarah Powell, Halmore, February 13, 81. 

Elizabeth Eddie, Sanigar, March 14, 82. 

John Powell, Halmore, April 9, 89. 

James Tucker Ghostley, Berkeley, July 11, 86. 
William Mundy, Berkeley Heath, November 30, 89. 
George Bennett, Stock, December 25, 87. 













HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


6 ? 


l86l. 

There were 40 burials in the year 1861. 

Anne Pearce, Berkeley, January 19, 82. 

Hester Kemmett, Halmore, January 27, 87. 

Sarah Nash, Thornbury Union, February 25, 80. 
Mary Reynolds, Berkeley, March 16, 83. 

Sarah Eddie, Wanswell, June 11, 82. 

John Oldland, Woodford, June 22, 85. 

Sarah Woodward, Halmore, July 19, 95. 

Anne Screen, Woodford, September 1, 90. 


1862. 

There were 56 burials in the year 1862. 

John Barton, Newport, January 17, 85. 

Mary Taylor, Wanswell, February 14, 80. 
Christopher Gazard, Thornbury Union, February 
18, 84. 

Betty Bow, Thornbury Union, May 20, 85. 
Richard Cornock, Berkeley, June 22, 80. 

Alice Millard, Purton, July 24, 86. 

Prudence Lawrence, Kitts Green, August 4, 87. 
Samuel Grafton, Halmore, October 9, 87. 

Sarah Ballinger, Heathfield, October 15, 86. 

Hester Cornock, Berkeley, October 26, 81. 

Hannah Smith, Wanswell, November 29, 89. 

Lois Lawrence, Berkeley, December 25, 81. 


f 2 













68 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


I863. 


There were 56 burials in the year 1863. 

Giles Powell, Hinton, February 9, 82. 

Richard Spillman, Stock, March 6, 81. 

Hannah Michell, Berkeley Heath, March 25, 85. 
William Cooper, Berkeley, June 20, 85. 

John Pick, Peddington, November 10, 82. 

*** The earliest Register Books begin January 8, 1813, pre¬ 
vious to that date the books are in the House of Lords. 


















BERKELEY CASTLE—(View from the Meadows.) 













































































































































































































































































































Chapter IV. 


THE CASTLE. 

“ This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air 
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself 
Unto our gentle senses .” 

Macbeth, Act /., Scene VI. 

Rudder says, “The castle was begun in the 17th year 
of King Henry the First, by Roger de Berkeley (the 
second), and finished by Roger the third in the reign 
of King Stephen.” 

The Saxon Chronicle (p. 223) states, that “King 
Henry the First was at Berkeley in the Easter of 1121 
four years after the foundation of the castle. 

From Dugdale the Author finds that this Roger was 
barbarously and perfidiously used by Walter, brother of 
Milo, Earl of Hereford, and violently ejected out of 
his castle at Berkeley. 

It is apparent from these evidences that there was a 
castle here in the reign of King Henry the First. 











7° 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


Mr. Smyth, who wrote “The Lives of the Berke¬ 
leys,” was of opinion that there was not one here , but 
that Dursley was meant, where there was a castle 
before the Conquest, the residence of these Berkeleys. 
This Author, referring to a deed in the castle, says : 

| —“ In the southest end of the towne is seated the 
castell of Berkeley, a great part whereof was built out 
of the ruines of the Nunnery, which stood in the 
same place, which was demolished by the practise of 
Earle Godwin, in the time of Edward the Confessor. 
The buildinge of this castell was by King Henry the 
Seconde, in the time of King Stephen, while the said 
| Henry was Duke of Normandy, as plainly appears by , 
j a deed of the said Duke Henry’s, made to Robert, the 
sonne of Harding, wherein the duke dothe acknow¬ 
ledge to have covenanted with the said Robert to build 
for him there a castle, accordinge to the will of the 
said Robert; and then gave his oathe to perform the 
same; as did also nyne other noblemen with the duke. 
And to see this building the better performed, the said 
Duke Henry, not long before the deathe of King 
Stephen, came in person to Berkeley. Howbeit, it is 
certain that, at this first building, the castle contained 
no more than the inmost of the three gates, and the 
buildinges within the same; for the two utmost gates, 
and all the buildings belonging unto them, save the 
Keepe, were the additions of Lord Maurice, eldest 
sonne of the Lord Robert, in the latter end of King 
Henry Second, and of Lord Thomas, the seconde of 

















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 71 

that name, in Edward II., and of Lord Thomas, the 
third of that name, in Edward III.” 

From this account it appears that the present castle 
was undoubtedly founded the latter end of the reign 
of King Stephen. 

The reader must judge for himself whether there 
was a castle here before or not. The fact of the 
Berkeleys having a castle at Dursley is no reason why 
they should not have had another at Berkeley. Indeed, 
the Author thinks it very possible that, owing to the 
civil wars between the Empress Maude and Stephen, 
Roger de Berkeley did erect a castle here, however 
small, and that it was demolished by Henry II., when 
he deprived this Roger of his Barony and Manor, and 
gave them to his opulent friend, Robert Fitzharding. 
At all events, the original portion of the present castle 
was founded by Henry, Duke of Normandy, who came 
in 1154 to superintend its construction. 

It is a fine structure of the feudal times, and one of 
the few buildings of that period which is still preserved 
from ruins. It stands on a rising eminence, and over¬ 
looks an extensive surface of rich and level pasture 
land. The battlements command a more extended 
view: the eye ranges over a large tract of open, flat 
country, thickly ornamented with rich woodland, and 
bounded by distant hills, and the river Severn, of 
which latter there is a beautiful prospect. 

A delightful view is obtained of Stinchcombe, Nibley, 
and Wotton hills, Tortworth Court, and the Monu- 














7 2 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

ment at Hawkesbury Upton. The Wyndcliff on the 
Wye, and the Forest of Dean are also seen. 

Its present form approaches nearest to that of a 
circle, and the buildings are enclosed by an irregular 
courtyard, a dry moat, and terrace, with a straight 
bowling-green. 

It appears that the original castle in Robert Fitz- 
harding’s time consisted of the Keep, and the Gateway 
which joins it. After passing through this Gateway, 
the Keep was, and is, approached by a sidelong flight 
of steps, over which is the Guard-room, now called 
King Edward’s Room. At the top of the steps, on the 
left, is the grand doorway—a fine Norman arch, and 
said to be a remnant of the Nunnery. Proceeding 
through this archway to the south, the visitor arrives 
at the Dungeon Tower,* in which is the Dungeon 
Chamber, and underneath it the Dungeon, which is 
twenty-eight feet deep. Southward is another tower, 
called The Lady s Hold. Westward is a tower, called 
Thorpe’s. The fourth, or Northern Tower , formerly 
a chapel, is now the Muniment or Evidence Room, 
where the documents of the family are kept. The 
Kitchen was in the wall, with a strong external abut- 

* Dungeon-Fr. Dongeon, ou Donjon—& dungeon, the strongest tower 
or place in a castle, where prisoners were wont to be kept. 

Prisoners being usually confined in these strong towers, the word 
dongeon was applied to other strong close places of confinement or im¬ 
prisonment. Dongeon is used by Chaucer 

“ 1 salued her > and enquired what she was, and why she, so worthie to 
sight, dained to enter into so foule a dongeon, and namely a prison, without 
leaue of my keepers.’’— Chaucer. “ The Testament of Lone," b.' i.’ 

















BEIUiELEY CASTLE—THE KEEP 
































































































































































































HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 73 

ment on the outside. The Keep was roofed in by 
leads, now uncovered : it has evidently undergone great 
alterations. 

At the present day the interior of the Keep is a 
grass-plat; and in the wall on the south side there is a 
large opening, no doubt the demolition of the Civil 
Wars in 1645, for the purpose of rendering the castle, 
then a place of residence, defenceless. About 1255, 
Maurice, Lord Berkeley, beautified the east, south, and 
west, with walks and gardens. 

In 1326 and 1327, Thomas, fifth Lord Berkeley, 
enlarged the Castle; and in 1344 and 1345, this Lord 
built that part outside the Keep on the north-east side, 
adjoining the great kitchen, and gave to the castle its 
present circular form. 

In the sixteenth century, Henry, Lord Berkeley, 
built the stone bridge to the first entrance, where 
before was a drawbridge of timber. 

This entrance leads into the outer court, where the 
Keep and Thorpe’s Tower present a very imposing 
appearance. 

There is another entrance, on the north, into this 
court, over a stone bridge, now disused: it leads into 
the adjoining park. 

The second entrance-gate defends the Inner Court, 
and joins the Keep : here are the residence of the Lord, 
and the apartments of his retainers. In this gateway, 
the groove of one portcullis is visible. 











74 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


“ There stands the castle, by yon tuft of trees,” 

Richard II., Act II., Scene III., 

said our great Bard upwards of two centuries and a 
half ago, and the Author questions if it has changed in 
appearance one iota since that time. 

The Dining-Room, 

{In the late Earl's time the Hall.) 

This is lofty and capacious, and was built in the 
reign of Edward the Third. It has been the scene of 
revelry and feudal pomp. It is 32^ feet in height, 
62 feet long, and 32 feet wide.* 

It has undergone no alteration of importance since 
the late Earl’s death beyond the erection (by the pre¬ 
sent Lord) of a handsome carved oak screen across the 
lower end. It is now warmed by flues, furnished, 
carpeted, and used as a Dining-room by the family. 

On one of the tables lies a Russian musket, taken at 
the Battle of Inkerman by Lieutenant (now Major) 
Maxse, a nephew of Lord Fitzhardinge, who greatly 
distinguished himself in the late war. 

At one end is the accustomed dais, elevated above 

* The writer of an article in the Leisure Hour, Part XVI., April, but 
published May 2, 1853, No. G8, p. 245, has very erroneously stated the 
Hall to be “ more than 90 feet long and 30 wide.” 

The Author, in the year 1856, measured the Hall himself, and he has 
recently had it measured, which measurement agrees with his own, so that 
the reader must receive the above account as the correct one. 














HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


75 


the floor, and a very antique fireplace. At the oppo¬ 
site end, facing the dais, is a small gallery, formerly 
used by the musicians, and behind it a pointed window 
of modern insertion, which reaches to the roof. The 
walls are decorated with swords, banners, figures in 
ancient armour, bucklers, cross-bows, and matchlocks. 

“ Let me wander in the Hall, 

Round whose antique visag’d wall 
Hangs the armour Britons wore, 

Rudely cast in days of yore.” 

There are four windows, of modern introduction, 
looking into the inner court, which extend to the com¬ 
mencement of the roof, containing a well-executed 
series of heraldic shields, emblazoned with the alliances 
of the Berkeleys for many generations. 

On the opposite side there are two windows looking 
on the terrace: there were three, but the third is 
stopped up. 


The Drawing-Room, 

{In the late Earl's time the Dining-Room.) 

This room is spacious, and wainscoated with fine 
oak panels. 

A couch of ebony, which formerly belonged to the 
celebrated Sir Francis Drake is here, but his bedstead 
and chairs of the same wood arc in another part of the 
castle. 

















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


76 

The walls are covered with full-length portraits of 
the Berkeley family, and others, with one of Queen 
Elizabeth, let into the paneling. There is a fine copy 
of Rubens’ “ Tribute-Money,” over an elaborate fire¬ 
place. 

In one corner is a recess, being part of a small tower, 
in which is a collection of scarce and antique china. 
In it was placed, a few years ago, the silver-framed 
mirror and silver toilet equipage service which formerly 
belonged to Queen Elizabeth. They were brought 
from Cranford, and came into possession of the Berke¬ 
leys from Lord Hunsdon, whose daughter, Elizabeth 
Carey, married Lord Berkeley. 

This room is now used with the two next rooms, 
which were in the late Earl’s time the Drawing-room 
and Music-room, as a suite of Drawing-rooms. 

The second Drawing-room is very elegantly and 
tastefully furnished. In it there is a beautiful old 
cabinet, inlaid with tortoiseshell; some very beautiful 
pictures and family portraits. 

The Chapel. 

This chapel was built in the reign of Edward the 
Third. 

Its windows, narrow and stained, are set in the 
thickness of the wall, and overlook the terrace. 

The roof is of wood, painted black, and supported 
by corbels, which are in excellent preservation. 












HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 77 

On the altar stands a small marble relievo of a Roman 
sacrifice. 

On one side of it is a low-legged carved chair, said 
to have belonged to Queen Anne. 

In front of it stands a lectern—a large bronze eagle, 
supporting on its back and wings a black-letter Prayer- 
book and Bible, bearing date 1633 and 1640. 

At the opposite end of the chapel, raised considerably 
above the floor, is the gallery for the family. 

This chapel is used for family prayers. 

The Chalice, or Godwin Cup. 

Mr. Marklove, in his “ Views of Berkeley Castle,” 
gives the following account of this cup, but does not 
state whence he obtained his information :— 

“This was a favourite cup of Earl Godwin’s, from 
which, on every morning, he used to quaff; but, as 
the legend runs, he neglected once his usual custom, 
and on that day the sea swallowed up the chief of his 
estates, now known as the Godwin Sands. May the 
Lord prosper us.” 

The truth is, the Godwin Sands were formerly part 
of the estate of the famous Earl Godwin ; but, through 
neglect of keeping the walls, &c., in repair, the sea 
overflowed them about the end of the reign of William 
Rufus, or the beginning of that of Henry the First. 

This is an elegant and elaborately embossed silver 
cup, and is gilt with gold. 









78 


HISTORY OF EERKELEY. 


On the top of the cover outside, under the ball and 
cross, are emblazoned the Royal Arms of James the 
First. 


THE CHALICE, OR GODWIN CUP. 



Inside the cover is engraved :— 

• “Earl Godwin, anno 1066.—New gilt for the present Earl of 
Berkeley's coming of age, anno 1766.” 










































HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


79 


The former part of this inscription is evidently an 
error, since Earl Godwin died in the year 1053. 

In the bottom of the cup are the Arms of Berkeley. 


King Edward’s Room. 

“Mark the year, and mark the night, 

When Severn shall re-echo with affright, 

The shrieks of death through Berkeley’s roofs that ring 5 
Shrieks of an agonizing king.” 

Gray's Bard. 

This castle has been the scene of various remarkable 
transactions; the most melancholy of which was the 
barbarous murder of Edward the Second, in 13 2 7 * 
When the death of this unfortunate sovereign had 
been resolved on by the Queen, and Mortimer (her 
infamous paramour), he was removed to Berkeley 
Castle, and committed to the custody of Thomas, third 
Lord Berkeley. Owing to the humanity with which 
this Lord treated the captive Monarch, he was soon 
after obliged to relinquish his castle and prisoner to 
Lord Maltravers and Sir Thomas Gourney, by whom 
the king was soon afterwards murdered, through the 
wicked subtlety of Adam de Orleton, Bishop of Here¬ 
ford, who wrote unto his keepers these few words, 
without points between them:—“ Edwardum occidere 
nolite timere bonum est that, by reason of their dif¬ 
ferent sense and construction, both they might commit 
the murder, and he also excuse himself. 










SO HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

These enigmatical words have been thus trans¬ 
lated :— 

“To murder King Edward fear; not to do it is praiseworthy.” 

“To murder King Edward fear not; to do it is praiseworthy.” 

And again:— 

“To seek to shed King Edward’s blood 
Refuse to fear I think it good.” 

This last sense the Bishop desired his words might 
be understood in, as indeed they were. 

Thomas de la More, who was Privy Councillor to 
Edward, and wrote his life, says that the murder was 
committed with a plumber’s iron:—“ Cum ferro plum- 
berri intense ignito ,” &c,—P. 603. 

Walsmgham, in his history, says :—“ Ipso prostrato , et 
sub ostio ponderoso detento ne surgeret , dum tortores impo- 
nerent cornu in ano suo (quod dictu verecundum est) et 
per foramen immitterent ignitum veru in viscera sua. n 
—Page 127. 

And Holinshed says :—“ His crie did move many 
within the castell and town of Birckelei to compassion, 
plainly hearing him utter a waileful noyse, as the tor- 
menters were about to murder him: so that dyvers 
being awakened thereby (as they themselves confessed), 
prayed heartilie to God to receyve his soule, when they 
understode by his crie what the matter ment.” 

The sufferings this poor Monarch went through, and 
the indignities he suffered, may have been in the 












HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


8 l 


mind of Shakespeare, when he wrote that melancholy 
passage placed in the mouth of a similar sufferer, 
Richard II.:— 

“ Let us sit upon the ground, 

And tell sad stories of the death of kings.” 

Richard II., Act III. , Scene II. 

After his death. Abbot Thokey had the courage to 
go, attended by his brethren, solemnly robed, and 
accompanied by a procession from the City of Glou¬ 
cester, and claimed the body for burial, which, with 
the observance of all possible respect, he conveyed in 
his own chariot, drawn by stags , to the Abbey, where 
it was buried with becoming solemnity. 

The south aisle of this Cathedral Church, was re¬ 
built by the offerings which devout people made at the 
shrine of King Edward II., which were so large, that 
the Register of the Abbey says, “If they had been 
all expended on the church, they might have built it 
from the groundso great a respect was paid to the 
memory of that injured prince. 

The Choir of this Cathedral was also built out of 
the pious offerings to his remains; and the votaries to 
his shrine, for some time after his death, could hardly 
find room in the city, so great was the concourse. 

A small apartment, called Edward’s Room, over the 
steps leading to the Keep, is pointed out as the room 
where this dire cruelty was perpetrated. At that time 
all the light it received was from arrow-slits: the 


G 



82 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

windows have been since introduced. A plaster cast 
of the king’s bust kept here is taken from his effigy on 
the tomb in Gloucester Cathedral; and what is shown 
as the implement of torture, is evidently nothing more 
than an old fencing-foil. 

It is advanced by the late Mr. Shrapnell, and by the 
Rev. T. D. Fosbroke, “ that the murder was com¬ 
mitted in the Dungeon-room; and that, to annoy and 
distress the captive, his keepers put putrid carcases and 
other nuisances in the dungeon underneath; and the 
unfortunate king bitterly complained of it at the win¬ 
dow to some carpenters at work upon the castle.” 
History, unfortunately, does not inform us of the room 
in which the murder was committed; and Antiquarians 
are not agreed upon the subject, whether it took place 
in Edward’s Room, or the Dungeon-room. 

The Author would observe here, that the king being 
a state prisoner—Lord Berkeley being allowed £5 
a-day for his expenses—would have the castle for his 
prison, and not be confined to one apartment. It was 
customary at this early period to make prisons of the 
gate-houses, and for the state prisoners to occupy the 
apartments over them. 

It is, therefore, probable that Edward occupied the 
apartments over the second entrance, and was mur¬ 
dered there, from whence it is more likely his screams 
would be heard by the townspeople than if he had 
been murdered in the Dungeon-room or Guard-room. 

After the murder. Lord Berkeley was arraigned as a 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 83 

participator in the foul deed, but was honourably 
acquitted by his Peers of being accessory to Edward’s 
death. 

1 

The Lady’s Hold. 

This is the portion of the castle to which the females 
retired for safety ; it consists of chamber above chamber, 
the upper one opening on the leads over the second 
entrance or gateway. 

Here was the promenade of the ladies, and occa¬ 
sionally of the state prisoners. — Wharton's Poetry , 

III., 13. 

Thorpe’s Tower, 

Now the Flag Tower, is called from a family of the 
name of Thorpe (long since extinct ) who held their 
estate at Wanswell, in this parish, by the tenure of 
guarding it. This estate is now the property of Lord 
Fitzhardinge. This tenure has a parallel in the case of 
Staunton Tower,* in Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, 
which is held by the representative of the family of 
Staunton, of Staunton, Nottinghamshire. 

* Burke, in his “Landed Gentry,” says—“ There is an ancient custom, 
when any of the Royal family honour Belvoir Castle with their presence, 
for the chief of the Staunton family personally to appear and present the 
key of the stronghold of the castle (called Staunton’s Tower) to the Royal 
visitors.” 

G 2 



84 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

In 1342, this tower, then in ruins, was rebuilt by 
Thomas, Lord Berkeley. From its summit, when Lord 
Fitzhardinge is at home, waves the flag on which are 
emblazoned the Arms, Crest, Supporters, and Motto of 
the family. 

Nothing more of moment occurs till the Civil 
Wars. 

During these wars, Berkeley Castle was besieged 
several times, and surrendered to Cromwell’s forces in 
i6 45 * 

In the Bibliotheca Gloucestrensis, by John Corbett, it 
is recorded :—“ Sept. 23, 1645. Berkeley Castle was 
now the only considerable fortress between Gloucester 
and Bristol that contained a royal garrison, and Colonel 
Rainsborough was sent by Fairfax to reduce it. He 
arrived before it on the twenty-third of September, 
and sent in a summons. 

Sn Charles Lucas, the Governor, returned for answer 
that he would eat horse-flesh before he would yield, 
and man’s flesh when that was done and to a second 
summons he gave as peremptory a reply. 

Then the assailants applied their scaling-ladders 
against the Church and outworks, and stormed them. 
Forty men were slain, and ninety taken prisoners. 

And when the Governor saw that the main strength 
of the place was lost, and that the besiegers were 
planting their ordnance against him from his own 
works which commanded the castle, he sounded a 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 85 

parley, and commissioners were sent out to treat of a 
surrender. 

The Castle of Berkeley was yielded upon these 
articles :— 

That the Governor should march out with three 
horses and his arms, and not above ^50 in money; 
every field-officer, with two horses and but jTj in 
money; foot captains, with swords, but no horse; 
common soldiers, without arms, and not above 5s 
a-piece. 

Five hundred horse and foot marched out of the 
gate ; and eleven pieces of ordnance, and six months’ 
provisions fell into the hands of the captors.” 

The castle, however, was shortly restored to the 
Lord of Berkeley with the proviso , that it was to remain 
in a defenceless state. 

The castle and town have suffered much from time 
to time through the incursions and sieges to which 
they were exposed. 

“ There is something,” says Whitaker, “in the 
nature of all privations which exposes them to be 
burlesqued;” and accordingly a Poet, who was not 
in love with hardships, has hit upon this very circum¬ 
stance : — 

“ In days of old our fathers went to war, 

Expecting sturdy blows and hardy fare; 

Their beef they often in their murrions stew’d, 

And in their basket-hilts their beverage brew’d.” 

Thus much for the castle : and now the Author 












86 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


resigns the Visitor into the hands of the Housekeeper, 


who shows this Baronial residence, which has stood 
seven hundred years; and concludes by borrowing 
the expression of Bacon:— 

“It is a pleasing thing to see an ancient castle or 
building not in decay, or to see a fair timber tree sound 
and perfect: how much more to behold an ancient 
family which hath stood against the waves and weathers 


of time!” 




Chapter V. 


THE BERKELEY FAMILY. 

As the pedigree of this noble house is in every Peerage, 
it will be unnecessary to give it here. The Author 
will, however, make the reader acquainted with the 
Founder of the Barony, and also lay before him some 
Memoirs of those personages who have shone con¬ 
spicuously in the annals of history, not recorded in 
those works. 

History relates that an ordinance was made in Den¬ 
mark that, if the King of that land had more sons 
than one, the eldest should succeed his father on the 
throne, and the younger ones should be sent into other 
countries. 

Thus it happened that 

Harding, second son of the King of Denmark, was 
sent into England to King William the Conqueror, 
unto whom this King gave great riches, and sent him 
to Bristol to live there in the year 1069. 

He was Mayor and Governor of that city, and. 




88 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

dying, was buried there 16 Henry I., 1116 ; and was 
succeeded by 

Robert Fitzharding, his eldest son and heir. 

He was likewise Mayor and Governor of Bristol; 
and in 1140 he began the foundation of the Abbey of 
St. Augustine’s there, which he dedicated and endowed 
April 11, 1148; and afterwards became a Canon 
therein. He, firmly adhering to Maud, the Empress, 
and her son Henry, Duke of Normandy (afterwards 
King Henry II.), whom he assisted with great supplies 
of money in their wars against King Stephen, had (in 
remuneration of his fidelity, and services done unto 
them, in their great contests with King Stephen) from 
the said Duke, on coming to the throne, the whole 
Lordship of Berkeley, and all that territory thereabouts 
called Berkeley-Herness; of which lordship and terri¬ 
tory, Roger de Berkeley, owner of Dursley, was then 
divested. 

The grant of Berkeley-Herness was made between 
September 7, 1150, and October 25, 1154. The 
Hundred of Berkeley was appendant to the Manor. 

The tenure was by Barony, and Lord Berkeley took 
his place and precedence from the first year of 
Henry II., anno 11 54. 

This Robert Fitzharding took part with, and enter¬ 
tained at Bristol, in 1168, Dermot Mac Murrough, 
King of Leinster, with sixty of his adherents, who then 
solicited succours from Henry II. to assist him in recov¬ 
ering his kingdom, from which he had been expelled by 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. »9 

the kings of Meath and Connaught; by means thereof 
in 1172 King Henry took possession of Ireland. 

He died 5 February, 1170-71, aged 75; buried in 
St. Augustine’s ; and was succeeded by his eldest sur¬ 
viving son, 

Maurice de Berkeley. 

He was the first who dwelt at Berkeley, and took 
the name, and dropped that of Harding. 

He gave 1,000 marks to King Henry II. for con¬ 
firmation of the grant of Berkeley and Berkeley-Her- 
ness. 

He fortified the castle, and took in part of the 
Churchyard, for which the Abbot of St. Augustine’s 
prosecuted him with Church censures. 

He founded two hospitals; viz., Lorrenge, between 
Berkeley and Dursley, and Longbridge, at the northern 
entrance into Berkeley. 

In fact, so benevolent were the early members of 
this family, that Smyth, in his “ Lives of the Berke¬ 
leys,” asserts, an assertion corroborated by Fuller, 
“ that they have been the greatest benefactors to the 
Church of the whole Nobility of England—no less than 
eighty Knights’ fees being held of them by religious 
houses; nor is there scarcely a church in this county, 
or even in adjacent counties, where the Arms in the 
windows do not denote a benefaction. The family 
have, on this account, an Abbot’s mitre for a crest.” 

This Lord died 16th June, 1190, and was buried at 
Brentford, near London, to which church he had been 



90 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

a great benefactor. He was succeeded by his eldest 
son, 

Robert de Berkeley. 

He went with King John to the wars in France. 

He and the rest of the Nobles having been much 
oppressed by this King demanding large sums of money 
of them for renewing charters, escuage, and other 
services, took up arms against him, and thereby in¬ 
curred his Majesty’s displeasure, but soon after re¬ 
covered the Royal favour. Again falling from his 
allegiance, the Castle of Berkeley and all his lands 
were seized by the King: only the Manor of Cam 
was allowed for his wife’s maintenance. 

Henry III. succeeding to the crown, he sued for 
pardon, and had all his estates restored to him, except 
the town and castle of Berkeley, by paying a fine of 
£g66 and i mark, i Henry III., to the Earl of Pem¬ 
broke, Earl Marshal of England, and Protector of the 
young King. 

He dying 13th May, 1220, without issue, about 55 
years of age ; buried in St. Augustine’s; was succeeded 
by his brother, 

Thomas de Berkeley. 

He complied with the King’s will, and had Berkeley 
Castle and town restored to him, 8 Henry III., 1223. 

He died 29th November, 1243, aged 76; buried in 
St. Augustine’s; and was succeeded by his eldest son, 

Maurice de Berkeley. 

This Nobleman, before the death of his father, was 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 91 

two years with King Henry III. in the wars in 
France. 

He entertained this King at Berkeley Castle in July, 
1256, on his return from Bristol, where he had been 
on a visit of four days to his son Prince Edward; and 
in return for his kindness, Henry III. pardoned this 
Lord and his tenants their breaches of Assize in 
merchandize and measure, belonging to the King as 
Supreme Clerk of the Market, and forgave him his 
taxes held anciently from Manors of the Demesnes of 
the Crown. He accompanied his Majesty against the 
Welsh in 42, 43, and 44 Henry III. He served six¬ 
teen times in person in the King’s wars; but he after¬ 
wards adhered to the rebellious Barons, for which 
insurrection against the King his lands were seized by 
the Crown. He obtained pardon of the King in 
1271. 

He died 4th April, 1281, seized of the Barony of 
Berkeley, which he held by the service of three 
Knights’ fees, and was buried in St. Augustine’s. He . 
was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, 

Thomas de Berkeley. 

He was with the King at the siege of Kenilworth 
Castle, in October, 1266 ; and he was afterwards in 
the Welsh wars; for which eminent services he had a 
special grant, temp . Edward /., of liberty to hunt the 
fox, hare, badger, and wild cat, with his own dogs, in 
the King’s forests of Mendip and Chase of Kingswood, 
except in mense vetito, fence time. 













92 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

His amusements were tournays, hawking, hunting, 
and agriculture at home. 

He was at the battle of Evesham, where Simon de 
Montfort, the great Earl of Leicester, was slain; he 
was engaged in the French wars in 25 Edward I.; he 
shared in the victory of Falkirk, gained 22nd July, 
1298 ; he was at the celebrated siege of Kaerlaverok, 
in 1300; and, lastly, he was taken prisoner at the 
fatal battle of Bannockburn, June 24, 1314, but after¬ 
wards obtained his freedom by paying a large fine. 
He went into the wars twenty-eight times. 

He was summoned to Parliament as a Baron by 
Writ, from 23rd June, 1295, to 15th May, 1321. 

This great warrior died 23rd July, 1321, aged 76, 
seized of the Castle and Hundred of Berkeley ; buried 
in St. Augustine’s; and was succeeded by his eldest son, 

Maurice de Berkeley, second Lord, who had sum¬ 
mons to Parliament, as Lord Berkeley, of Berkeley 
Castle, from 6th August, 1308, to 15th May, 1321. 

Being of a military disposition in his youth, he was 
in several tournaments in England; and was in all the 
Welsh, Scotch, and French wars with his father. 

His Lordship was made Governor of Gloucester in 
1312; the King committed to him the custody of the 
town and castle of Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1314; he 
was made Justice of South Wales in 1315, and had the 
keeping of all the castles there ; and in 1319 he was 
made High-Steward of the Duchy of Aquitaine, and a 
Baron in his father’s lifetime. On his return from 







HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 93 

Aquitaine, he joined with Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of 
Lancaster, and other Lords, against the Spencers, and 
laid waste all their estates, and caused them to be 
banished; but the Spencers were recalled within a 
year by an Act of Parliament, and their opponents 
declared traitors. 

This Lord was consequently, in 1321, committed 
prisoner to Wallingford Castle, and all his estates were 
forfeited. He died there 31st May, 1326, aged 45, but 
was buried in St. Augustine’s, and was succeeded by his 
eldest son, 

Thomas, third Lord, who was summoned to Parlia¬ 
ment from 14th June, 1329, to 20th November, 

1 36°- 

To this Nobleman the custody of the unhappy 
Edward II. was committed, and whose melancholy 
death is related in page 79. 

This Lord had restitution of his lands, 1 Edward III., 
which had been forfeited by his father joining in rebel¬ 
lion with Thomas, Earl of Lancaster; and he had 
Berkeley Castle restored to him when the Queen’s 
army marched from Gloucester that way. 

This Lord was always in arms on all the King’s 
expeditions: he was at the battle of Cressy, in 1346, 
with Edward III.; at the taking of Calais, 31st De¬ 
cember, 1348 ; and at the battle of Poictiers,* won 

t 

* The following anecdote is extracted from Froissart’s account of the 
battle of Poictiers:—“It happened that, in the midst of the general 
pursuit, a squire from Picardy, named John de Helennes, had quitted the 










94 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

19th September, 1356, where the King of France 
was taken prisoner. He was, in short, twenty-two 
times, in the reign of Edward III., in wars with the 
French, or Welsh, or Scotch. 

king’s division, and, meeting his page with a fresh horse, had mounted 
him, and made off as fast as he could. At that time, there was near to 
him the Lord of Berkeley, a young knight, who, for the first time, had 
that day displayed his banner: he immediately set out in "ursuit of him. 
When the Lord Berkeley had followed him for some little time, John de 
Helennes turned about, put his sword under his arm in the manner of a 
lance, and thus advanced upon the Lord Berkeley, who taking his sword 
by the handle, flourished it, and lifted up his arm in order to strike the j 
squire as he passed. John de Helennes, seeing the intended stroke, 
avoided it, but did not miss his own; for as they passed each other, by a 
blow on the arm he made Lord Berkeley’s sword fall to the ground. 
When the knight found that he had lost his sword, and that the squire 
had his, he dismounted, and made for the place where his sword lay ; but 
he could not get there before the squire gave him a violent thrust which 
passed through both bis thighs, so that, not being able to help himself, he 
fell to the ground. John upon this dismounted, and, seizing the sword of 
the knight, advanced up to him and asked if he were willing to surrender. 
The knight required his name: * I am called John de Helennes,’ said he ; 
‘what is your name?’ ‘In truth, companion,’ replied the knight, ‘my 
name is Thomas, and I am Lord of Berkeley, a very handsome castle, 
situated on the river Severn, on the borders of Wales.’ ‘ Lord of Berke¬ 
ley,’ said the squire, ‘you shall be my prisoner: I will place you in safety, 
and take care you are healed, for you appear to me to be badly wounded.’ 
The knight answered, ‘I surrender myself willingly, for you have 
loyally conquered me.’ He gave him his word that he would be his 
prisoner, rescued or not. John then drew his sword out of the knight’s 
thighs, and the wounds remained open ; but he bound them up tightly, 
and, placing him on his horse, led him a foot-pace to Chatel-Herault. 
He continued there, out of friendship to him, for fifteen days, and had 
medicines administered to him. "When the knight was a little recovered, 
he had him placed in a litter, and conducted him safe to his house in 
Picardy, where he remained more than a year before he was quite cured, 
though he continued lame ; and when he departed, he paid for his ransom 
six thousand nobles, so that this squire became a knight by the great 
profit he got from the Lord of Berkeley.”— Vol. II., chap. 160. 














HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


95 


His piety was as eminent as his valour, for he 
founded several chantries :—Amongst which, in 17 
Edward III., he founded a Chantry in the Chapel of 
St. Maurice, at Newport, near Berkeley, endowing it 
with divers lands and rents in Berkeley, Wotton, and 
Alkington. He also gave to the Chantry-priest of our 
Lady, in the Church of Berkeley, and to his successors, 
divers lands in Ham, to hold an Anniversary on the 
day of Petronilla the Virgin, for the Lord Maurice his 
father, in Berkeley Church; as also for Margaret his 
mother; and for himself after his decease. 

His Lordship died 27th October, 1361 ; buried in 
Berkeley Church; and was succeeded by his eldest son, 
by his first wife, 

Maurice, fourth Lord, who was born about the end 
of the fourth year of Edward III. 

In 11 Edward III., being then but seven years of 
age, he was taken into Scotland, by his father, and 
there knighted, to prevent wardship ; and the year fol¬ 
lowing, though but eight years old, married Elizabeth, 
the daughter of Hugh le Despenser. 

This Sir Maurice went to Granada when fourteen 
years old, and stayed abroad two years. He attended 
the Black Prince into Gascony, and was badly 
wounded and taken prisoner at the celebrated battle 
of Poictiers. 

The Earl of Salisbury obtained leave for this Lord 
to come to England ; and the King gave his patent, 
February 12th, for him to come over and return by 










HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


96 

the 20th day after Michaelmas; and he did return, 
but paid for his ransom ,£1,080 of English money 
sterling.— MS. Veel , page 389. 

He died June 8, 1368, aged 37; buried in St. 
Augustine’s; and was succeeded by his eldest son, 

Thomas, fifth Lord, being then fifteen years old. 

He was a great soldier, both by land and sea, having 
been in all the wars in France, Scotland, and Wales. 
In 1403 he was made Admiral, when Charles the Sixth 
of France sent forces to Glendowrdwy, and they 
arrived at Milford Haven, where he burnt fifteen sail 
of their ships, and took fourteen, on board of which 
was the Seneschal of France, and eight officers of note, 
whom he made prisoners. 

He entertained King Richard II. at Berkeley Castle 
in 1387. 

He was a great lover of learning, and an especial 
favourer of that worthy person, John Trevisa, Vicar of 
Berkeley, in his time; of whom Bale gives this cha¬ 
racter, that he was vir 7 nulta eruditmie atque eloquentia 
clarus. Which John, moreover, was a Canon of the Col¬ 
legiate Church of Westbury, Wilts, and translated into 
English the Old and New Testaments at his request. 

This Lord dying 13th July, 1417, without male 
issue, was succeeded by his nephew, 

James, sixth Lord, the only surviving son of James, 
who was brother to the last Lord (Thomas). 

In consequence of the large estate concerned, a 
lawsuit was carried on between this Lord and his pos- 













HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 97 

terity with his cousin Elizabeth, heiress of the last 
Lord (Thomas), and her posterity, which lasted 192 
years. This feud was carried on with great violence, 
and much bloodshed ensued. Amongst some of the 
transactions, the following occurred:—“In 18 Henry V., 
one David Woodburne, with divers others of his fellow- 
servants of their master, John Talbot, Viscount Lisle, 
coming to Wotton, served this Lord James with a 
subpcena for his appearance in the Chancery, and 
insisted on obeying the process. This Lord James not 
only beat the parties, but ‘ will he nill he ’ inforced the 
said David to eat the subpoena , wax, and parchment.”— 
MS. Berkeley , page 488. 

This Lord died 22nd October, 1463 ; buried in 
Berkeley Church, and was succeeded by his eldest son, 

William, seventh Lord. 

He was created Viscount Berkeley 21st April, 1481 ; 
advanced to the dignity of Earl of Nottingham in 
1483; and created Marquess of Berkeley 28th January, 
1489. 

This Nobleman carried on the lawsuit with his 
cousin Thomas Talbot, Viscount Lisle, concerning 
some lands claimed by the latter in right of his grand¬ 
mother, Margaret, Countess of Shrewsbury, the grand¬ 
daughter of Thomas, Lord Berkeley, who died 13 th 
July, 1417. This variance rose to such a height, that 
they fought the celebrated battle of Nibley Green, in 
1469, wherein Viscount Lisle was slain, being shot 
with an arrow through the mouth as his beaver was up. 











9 8 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

This Marquess died 14th February, 1491, and, 
leaving no issue, his own honours (which he had pur¬ 
chased of King Henry VII. and his courtiers, by 
settling his castle and lands upon them) ceased ; but 
the Barony of Berkeley should have passed to his 
brother Maurice, had not the Marquess, in anger with 
him for not marrying a person of honourable parentage, 
settled the Castle of Berkeley and the lands belonging 
to that ancient Barony, upon King Henry VII., and 
the heirs male of his body, in failure of which to 
descend to his own right heirs. In consequence of 
this conveyance, his brother, 

Maurice (eighth Baron by right) enjoyed none of 
the estates, and was entirely deprived of the Peerage. 
This Maurice, however, obtained his share of an estate 
which devolved upon him in right of his mother. 

He lived at Thornbury, and dying in 1506, aged 71 ; 
buried in Friers Augustine, London; was succeeded 
by his eldest son, 

Maurice (ninth Baron by right), who was brought 
up at Thornbury. 

He went abroad, and became a great soldier. 

When he was in England he resided at Yate, and 
styled himself Maurice Berkeley, Esq.; but when he 
was in the King’s service he styled himself Maurice 
Berkeley, son and heir of Maurice Berkeley, Lord 
Berkeley. He was made a Knight of the Bath at the 
coronation of King Henry VIII. 

This Sir Maurice died September 12, 1524, aged 












HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 99 

57, at Calais, and was buried there; and, leaving no 
issue, was succeeded by his brother, 

Thomas (tenth Baron by right), who was likewise 
educated at Thornbury. 

He was Captain over a body of men at the cele¬ 
brated battle of Flodden Field, fought 9th September, 
1513, and for his signal service was Knighted in the 
held by the General, Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey. 

This Sir Thomas died 22nd January 1532, aged 60, 
and was first buried at Mangotsheld, but afterwards re¬ 
moved to the new tomb which he had erected in the 
Abbey Church of St. Augustine’s, Bristol; and was 
succeeded by his son, 

Thomas (eleventh Baron by right), who was brought 
up at St. Omer’s, France. 

He died at Stone, near Dartford, Kent, 19th Sep¬ 
tember, 1535, aged 29; was buried there, and was 
succeeded by his posthumous son, 

Henry (twelfth Baron by right), who, upon the 
death of King Edward VI. (the last male heir of 
Henry VII.), succeeded as heir to Berkeley Castle and 
lands, which had been settled upon Henry and his 
heirs male by the Marquess of Berkeley. 

His Lordship was summoned to Parliament by 
Queen Mary in right of the ancient Barony of the 
family. 

This Lord died 26th November, 1613; buried in 
Berkeley Church; and was succeeded by his grandson 
and heir, 

h 2 


LofC. 



IOO HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

George, thirteenth Baron, K.B., and son of Thomas, 
who died before his father. 

He died ioth August, 1658, and was succeeded by 
his only surviving son, 

George, fourteenth Baron, who was created, 11 th 
September, 1679, Baron Mowbray, Segrave, and 
Breaus, Viscount Dursley, and Earl of Berkeley. 

This Nobleman was one of the Committee of Lords 
and Commons sent to the Hague, in May, 1660, by 
both Houses of Parliament, to present their humble in¬ 
vitation and supplication, “ that his Majesty would be 
pleased to return, and take the government of the 
kingdom into his hands; where he should find all 
possible affection, duty, and obedience, from all his 
subjects.”— Clarendon's History of the Civil Wars , 
Vol. III., Book xvi., p. 600. 

“They presented from the Parliament £50,000 to 
his Majesty, to defray his debts with; £10,000 to 
the Duke of York, and £5,000 to the Duke of 
Gloucester, for their several necessities; as presents 
from them.”— Clarendon , Vol. III., p. 600. 

“The King embarked for England May 24, landed at 
Dover May 26, and entered London May 29,* 1660 
(the anniversary of his birthday), in a most splendid and 

* Although Charles II. did not become King de facto until the 29th of 
May, 1660, his regnal years -were computed from the death of his father, 
30th January, 1649 ; so that the year of his restoration is called the 
twelfth of his reign. This was done under an opinion of the Judges, 
who resolved, that from the instant of his father’s death, though excluded 
from the kingly office, he was King both de jure and de facto. 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. IOI 

magnificent manner, and was then solemnly proclaimed 
King.”— Clarendon, V ol. III., p.602. Edition of 1704. 
Oxford. 

This Lord was in great favour with the Duke of 
York, and together with his nephew Charles, had the 
principal management of his Royal Highness’s family. 

He was also a member of the Privy Council in the 
reigns of Charles II., James II., and William III.* 

This Lord died 14th October, 1698, and was suc¬ 
ceeded by his eldest son, 

Charles, fifteenth Baron and second Earl, K.B. 

He was summoned to the House of Peers as Baron 
Berkeley, of Berkeley, iithjuly, 1689. 

His Lordship died 24th September, 1710, and was 
succeeded by his second, but eldest surviving, son, 
James, sixteenth Baron and third Earl. 

He was summoned to Parliament, 7th March, 1704, 
by the title of Lord Dursley. 

He was a distinguished Naval Officer during the 
reign of Queen Anne. In Sir George Rooke’s engage¬ 
ment with the French fleet off Malaga, 13 th August, 
1704, he commanded the Boyne of eighty guns. In 

* He was Author of a little book, valuable for its merit as well as its 
rarity, entitled “ Historical Applications and Occasional Meditations 
upon several subjects. 1670, 12mo.” 

“ In this book are several striking instances of the testimony which 
some men have borne to the importance of a religious life, and the con¬ 
solation to be received from it, especially at the approach of death.”— 
Granger’s Biog. Hist., Vol. III., p. 212. 

The above work was reprinted in 1838, by C. Richards, St. Martin’s 
Lane, London. 



102 HISTORY OF BERKELEY* 

August 1707, his Lordship, riding at anchor before one 
of the Isles of Hieres, in which were three forts, sur¬ 
prised the strongest, and summoned the two others, 
which surrendered at discretion. 

This Lord was succeeded at his decease in 1736 by 
his only son, 

Augustus, seventeenth Baron and fourth Earl, K.T. 

His Lordship likewise distinguished himself as a 
Military Officer, and obtained the command of one of 
the regiments embodied to march against the Scotch 
and English rebels in 1745, and the Pretender’s army 
was defeated at Culloden, 16th April, 1 746. 

He died 9th January, 1755, aged 39; and was suc¬ 
ceeded by his eldest son, 

Frederick-Augustus, eighteenth* Baron and fifth 
Earl. 

This Nobleman was constituted Lord-Lieutenant 
and Custos-Rotulorum of the County of Gloucester, 
and of the Cities of Gloucester and Bristol, Constable 
of the Castle of St. Briavel, and Warden of the Forest 
of Dean; also Keeper of the Deer and Woods in the 
said Forest ;t and High-Steward of Gloucester. 

* The writer of an article in the Saturday Magazine for July 23, 1836, 
Vol. IX,, p. 26, states that, this Earl is two-and-twentieth in descent from 
Robert Fitzharding, first Lord of Berkeley. That writer reckoned the 
descent from the feudal tenure of Berkeley Castle, since the time of 
Henry II.; whereas the Author of this work reckons from the creation by 
writ, June 23, 1295. 

t Of forests and woods (fallow deer), Fuller thus writes 

“ The deer therein, when living, raise the stomachs of gentlemen with 
their sport; and, when dead, allay them again with their flesh. The fat 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


IO3 


He died 8 th August, 1810, aged 65; was buried in 
the Sepulchral Chapel adjoining the Chancel of Berke¬ 
ley Church ; and his eldest son, 

William-Fitzhardinge Berkeley, succeeded to the 
Castle and Manor of Berkeley. 

He presented a petition to the Crown for a Writ of 
Summons as Earl Berkeley, but the House of Lords in 
1811 came to a resolution that the petitioner had not 
substantiated his claim. 

He was created Baron Segrave in 1831, and Earl 
Fitzhardinge in 1841. 

His Lordship was Lord-Lieutenant and Custos-Rotu- 
lorum of Gloucestershire, and Colonel of the South 
Gloucester Militia. 

He died unmarried, October 10, 1857, aged 70, and 
was buried in the Sepulchral Chapel aforesaid. On 
his demise, his brother. 

Sir Maurice-Frederick-Fitzhardinge Berkeley, 


of venison is conceived to be (but I would not have deer-stealers hear it) 
of all flesh the most vigorous nourishment, especially if attended with 
that essential addition which Virgil coupleth therewith—] 

‘ Implewtur veteris Bacchi, pinguisque ferince 
(Old wine did their thirst allay, fat venison hunger). 

— Fuller's Worthies , p, 325, Edit. 1662. 

Again, he says 

“But deer are daily diminished in England , since the gentry are neces¬ 
sitated into thrift, and forced to turn their pleasure into profit, Jam seges 
est ubi Parcv* erat; and since the sale of bucks hath become ordinary, I 
believe, in process of time, the best stored park will be found in a cook’s 
shop in London.”— Fuller , p. 325. 
















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


IO4 

G.C.B., succeeded to the Castle* and Manor of 
Berkeley. 

He presented a petition to the House of Lords, July 
12, i860, claiming the honour and dignity of Baron of 
Berkeley, and after several lengthy hearings of this claim 
the Attorney-General concluded thus, “Under all the 
circumstances, he must say that, in his opinion, the 
claimant had not made out his case. Their Lordships 
then adjourned the further consideration sine die ”— 

'The Times , August 13, i860. 

He was created Baron Fitzhardinge, August 5, 
1861. 

His Lordship is a Privy Councillor, an Admiral, and 
a Magistrate for Gloucestershire. 

* # * Thomas - Moreton - Fitzhardinge Berkeley, 
fifth son of the fifth Earl, de jure present Earl of 
Berkeley, but he does not assume the title. 


The Author having now finished his collection of 
some of the Memoirs of this illustrious family, thinks he 

* On Wednesday, 15th February, 1860, the Prince of Orange paid a 
visit to this ancient structure. A troop of the South Gloucestershire 
Hussars escorted hi3 Royal Highness from Stone, and on reaching the 
Castle the band of the Royal South Gloucester Militia played the national 
Dutch anthem. The Prince was received by Sir Maurice and Lady Char¬ 
lotte Berkeley, and the party staying at the Castle—Lady Emily and Miss 
Ponsonby, Lord William Lennox, Colonel and Mrs. Berkeley, and Mrs. 
Charles Berkeley—were presented to him. After visiting the building a 
handsome lunch was prepared in the grand hall, and on taking his depar¬ 
ture the heir to the throne of Holland expressed his high gratification at 
the reception he had met with. 
















HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


105 


cannot do better than take leave with the words of 
Scott:— 

“ Names known too well in Scotland’s war, 

At Falkirk, Methven, and Dunbar, 

Blazed broader yet, in after years, 

At Cressy red and fell Poictiers.” 


Lord of the Isles, Canto VI., 25. 











Chapter VI. 


THE FREE SCHOOL, BRIDEWELL HOUSE, 

ETC. 


The Free School. 

This school was endowed by Samuel Thurner, Esq., 
of Thornbury, in this county. Bachelor of Physic of 
Magdalen Hall, Oxford. By his last Will and Testa¬ 
ment, dated October 5th, 1696, he gave certain lands 
in the parishes of Berkeley, Rockhampton, and Thorn¬ 
bury, for the educating of poor boys and girls of this 
town. In the year 1856, there were twenty-six boys 
and five girls. There were also twelve other boys— 
three of the town, and three of each tything—educated 
in this school by the endowment of John Smith, A.M., 
of Magdalen College, Oxford, in the year 1717. 

The house on Canonbury-hill, formerly used for 
this school, was the property of Lord Fitzhardinge, 
who pulled it down in 1861, and a School-house was 
erected in that year, opposite the Vicarage Close. 




HISTORY OF BERKELEY. IO 7 

This house is in the hands of Trustees for the use of 
the school, and no rent is paid for it. 

There are not any girls educated in it now , but 
about thirty-six boys. 

Lady Fitzhardinge’s Schools. 

These schools (adjoining the Wesleyan Chapel) were 
built in 1861 by Lord Fitzhardinge, by whom they are 
supported, and more than 200 children receive a good 
and plain education. 

The Bridewell House. 

This house was given by an unknown Benefactor for 
the benefit of the poor of this town. It formerly con¬ 
sisted of tenements, the rental of which from 1683 to 
1813 varied from six to twenty pounds a-year. 

Being in ruins and uninhabited, it was pulled down 
in 1856, and a very good house built on the site by 
the late Earl Fitzhardinge, in which a branch of the 
National Provincial Bank of England was established in 
1862. 

The Town House. 

This house was likewise given by an unknown Bene¬ 
factor for the benefit of the poor of this town. It is 
still inhabited, the rental of which goes to the poor. 









HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


108 

The Market House. 

This is a good and substantial stone building, and 
was built in the year 1824. It was not built on the 
site of the old Market House, but nearly opposite to 
where it stood. It is apparent from Domesday-book, 
that there was a market held in this town in the time 
of Edward the Confessor, and also of William the 
Conqueror. A grant, however, was obtained by 
Robert, son of Robert Fitzharding, of King Henry II., 
in the first year of his reign, to hold a market here 
every Tuesday: this has been discontinued for many 
years. 

This Market House is now used for the monthly 
market, the first Wednesday in every month, established 
in 1859, f° r t ^ ie sa ^ e °f cheese, butter, &c. 

The room above it (called the Town Hall) is used 
daily by the British School and Young Men’s Society. 
Occasionally concerts, &c., are held here. 

The Police Station. 

A new Police Station was erected in 1861, in 
Canonbury Street, opposite the Post Office. This 
is a handsome building, and quite an ornament to the 
town. 

Petty Sessions are held here now, instead of where 
they used to be, viz., at the White Hart Inn. 



HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 109 

Trade. 

The clothiers’ business was an important one here 
formerly , but it ceased about forty-eight years ago. 
The cheese business was also carried on to some 
extent, but this likewise terminated about the same 
period. The trade now is in tanning, malt, timber, 
and coal. 


A LIST OF SOME OF THE MAYORS OF 

BERKELEY, 


collected from documents in the Town Chest from 
1625 to 1727 inclusive, and from the Court Leet Rolls, 
in the Castle, from 1750 to 1855 inclusive. 


NAMES. 

years. 

NAMES. 

YEARS. 

William Hale . 

. 1625 

John Clarke 

. 1638 


1626 

1639 


1627 

Edmund- . 

. 1640 

Thomas Walker . 

. 1628 


1641 


1629 

John Walker 

. 1642 


1630 

1643 

Thomas Marlim . 

. 1631 

James Roberts . 

. 1644 

William Hale . 

. 1632 

1645 

Charles Jay 

- 1633 

William Smith . 

. 1646 

1634 

Ferdinando Shawe 

. 1647 

William Laurence 

• 1635 

John Edwards 

. 1648 


1636 

Joseph Atkines . 

. 1649 

William Hawkins 

. 1637 

Josias Edmonds . 

. 1650 






I IO HISTORY OF 

BERKELEY. 


NAMES. 

years. 

NAMES. 

years. 

Clemwell Woodward . 

1651 

Cornelius Lawrence 

1 693 

Thomas Pearce . 

1652 

Daniell Clarke . 

i6 94 

Thomas Pearce . 

i 6 53 

George Lewis 

i6 95 

Charles Smyth . 

1654J 

George Lewis 

1696 

Thomas Nelme . 

1655 

William Neale . 

1697 

Richard Tratman 

1656 

James Baily 

1698 

Robert Eswate . 

1657 

John Barker 

i6 99 

Thomas Laurence 

1658 

John Barker 

1700 

Thomas Pearce . 

i6 59 

Cornelius Lawrence 

1701 

David Pretchett 

1660 

John Vick . 

1702 

Richard Pallmer 

1661 

John Tyler 

1703 

Henrye Lewes . 

1662 

William Beaven. 

1704 

John Morris 

1663 

Arthur Beaven . 

1705 

Thomas Pearce . 

1664 

James Watts 

1706 

John Smyth 

1665 

Edward Lucas 

1707 

Daniell Crome . 

1666 

Daniell Clarke . 

1708 

John Collins 

1667 

Daniell Clarke . 

1709 


1668 

Daniell Packer . 

1710 

Daniell Crome . 

1669 

Thomas Dening . 

1711 


1670 

Obadiah Laugharne 

1712 

John Nelme 

1671 

Obadiah Laugharne 

1713 


1672 

Thomas Varnham 

1714 

Samuel Cowle 

1673 

Thomas Varnham 

1 7 1 5 

Thomas Laurence 

1674 

John Bayly 

' 1716 

Thomas Laurence 

1675 

Mr. Bayly . 

1717 

Maurice Attwood 

1676 

John Pick . 

1718 

Nathaniell Laurence 

1677 

William Raymond 

i 7 r 9 

Thomas Beavan . 

1678 

William Raymond 

1720 


1679 

Richard Palmer. 

1721 


1680 

William Warner 

1722 


1681 

William Hooper 

1723 


1682 

Thomas Dening . 

1724 

John Somers 

1683 

James Beaven 

1725 

John Pallmer 

1684 

Robert Marklove 

1726 

Joseph Tyler 

1685 

Obadiah Laugharne 

1727 

Joseph Tyler 

1686 


1728 

Mr. Somers . 

1687 


1729 

Mr. Cambridge . 

1688 


1730 

Nathaniel Gardner . 

1689 


1731 

Nathaniel Lawrence . 

1690 


1732 

Nathaniel Lawrence. 

1691 


1733 

John Smyth 

1692 


1734 











HISTORY OF BERKELEY, 


I I I 


NAMES. 


Mr. Samuel Stokes 
Richard Smith . 
Robert Marklo've 
Robert Lloyd 
Henry Somers 
Alexander Raymond 
John Laugharne. 
Nicholas Hickes. 
Nicholas Hickes. 
Thomas Pearce . 
William King . 
Samuel Parker . 
James Prewatt . 
Benjamin Cotten 
Thomas Gwinn . 
William Turner 
William Parslow 
Thomas Woolright 
John Parslow 
Richard Smith . 
John King . 

William Neale . 
Jonathan Halling 
Alexander Raymond 
William Spillman 
Benjamin Cotten 
Thomas Gwinn . 


YEARS. 

1735 

1736 

1737 

1738 

1739 

1740 

1741 

1742 

1743 

1744 

1745 

1746 

1747 

1748 

1749 

1750 

1751 

1752 

1753 

1754 

1755 

1756 

1757 

1758 

1759 

1760 

1761 

1762 

1763 

1764 

1765 

1766 

1767 

1768 

1769 

1770 

1771 

1772 

1773 

1774 

1775 ! 
1776; 


NAMES. 

William Parslow 
Thomas Woolright 
Wm. Lawrence Parslow 
John King . 

William Neale . 
Jonathan Halling 
William Spillman 
John Summers 
Wm. Lawrence Parslow 
James Prewatt . 
William Joyner 
William Grafton 
Daniel Marklove 
James Russell 
John Hopkins 
Thomas Pearce . 

John Bick . . 

John Summers 
William Joyner . 
William Grafton 
John Marklove . 

Thos. Woolright, Jun. 
Henry Jenner 
Thomas Neale 
John Halling 
Thomas Hickes . 
Edward Jenner, M.D. . 
James Simmonds . 

Daniel Marklove 
Viscount Dursley 
Robert Pearce . 

Thos. Woolright, Jun. 
Henry Jenner 
John Phillips 
Thomas Neale . 

John Halling, Sen. 

M. F. F. Berkeley,) 
Captain R.N. ) 
Thomas Hickes . 

George Smith 
J. H. B. Morgan . 
Edward Jenner, M.D.. 


YEARS. 

1777 

1778 

1779 

1780 

1781 

1782 

1783 

1784 

1785 

1786 

1787 

1788 

1789 

1790 

1791 

1792 

1 793 
*794 

1 795 

179 6 

1797 

1798 

1 799 

1800 

1801 

1802 

1803 

1804 

1805 

1806 

1807 

1808 

1809 

1810 

1811 

1812 

1813 

1814 

1815 

1816 

1817 















I 12 


HISTORY OF BERKELEY, 


NAMES. 

years. 

NAMES. 

YEARS. 

Robert Pearce . 

• 

1818 

John Thorn 

• 

1841 

M. F. F. Berkeley, R.N. 

1819 

Thomas Woolright 


1842 

R.Fitzhardinge Tenner 

1820 

Francis Hands . 


1843 

William Duberly 

• 

1821 

Francis Hands . 


1844 

Robert Norman . 

. 

1822 

E.Drinkwater Ghostley 

1845 

Timothy Tratman 

• 

1823 

William Pope 


1846 

Henry Marklove 


1824 

William Pope 


1847 

Charles Marklove 


1825 

William Smith . 


1848 

George Smith 

• 

1826 

Stephen Alpass . 


1849 

Tames Gastrell Phillips 

1827 

Daniel Sutton . 


1850 

John Spier . 

• 

1828 

John Cox Hickes. 


1851 

John Spier . 

• 

1829 

David Legge 


1852 

George Smith 

• 

1830 

William Gaisford 


1853 

William Day 

• 

1831 

Thomas Adams 


1854 

George Seaborn . 

• 

1832 

Thomas Woolright 


1855 

John H. B. Morgan 

• 

1833 

Francis Hands . 


1856 

Daniel Sutton . 

• 

1834 

E. D. Ghostley . 


1857 

John Cox Hickes. 

• 

1835 

John Cary . 


1858 

R.Fitzhardinge Jenner 

1836 

Col. F. W. F. Berkeley 

1 859 

Robert Norman . 

• 

1837 

William Pope 


i860 

James Drake 

• 

1838 

William Pope 


1861 

Timothy Tratman 

• 

1839 

J. G. Phillips 


1862 

James Gastrell Phillips 

1840 

D. Sutton . 


1863 


Note.—N o record exists of the names not given. 













Chapter VII. 


THE WITCH OF BERKELEY. 

The “Berkeley Witch” of William of Malmesbury 
lived in the time of Edward the Confessor. She was 
so wicked, that the fiends are reported to have run 
away with her body from Berkeley Church in the 
presence of the Clerks singing for her soul! The fol¬ 
lowing legend was applied to this place, which shall be 
given in faithful translation from William of Malmes¬ 
bury, who seems to have been the original authority, 
and he had the story from an eye witness. “ When I 
shall have related it,” he says, "the credit of the narra¬ 
tive will not be shaken, though the minds of the hearers 
should be incredulous, for I have heard it from a man of 
such character, who would swear he hud seen it, that I 
should blush to disbelieve.”— Sharpds William of 
Malmesbury, p. 264. 

A woman used to reside in Berkeley, accustomed, 
as it afterwards appeared, to crimes, not ignorant of 
the ancient auguries, a patroness of the palate, arbitress 
of petulance, putting no moderation to her sins, because 


1 

















3 I 4. HISTORY OF BER KELEY. 

she was as yet on this side of old age, although beating 
on the door of it with a near foot. When this woman 
was on a certain day holding a feast, a raven, which 
she kept as a pet, croaked something louder than usual. 

Upon hearing this, the knife fell from her hand, her 
countenance became pale, and groaning, she exclaimed, 
‘To day my plough has come to its last furrow; to day 
I shall hear and receive a great misfortune/ While 
speaking the words, the messenger of miseries entered. 

Being asked why he came with a face so full of ex¬ 
pression, ‘I bring news to you,’ he said, ‘from that 
town/ and named the place, ‘ of the death of your son, 
and destruction of all the family, by a sudden ruin/ 

At these words, the woman, wounded in her mind 
with grief, immediately swooned away, and feeling the 
disease creep to her vitals, invited her surviving children, 
a monk and nun, with speedy letters, and addressed 
them upon their arrival, with a sobbing voice. ‘ I, my 
children, by my miserable fate, have always used de¬ 
moniac arts; I have been the sink of all vices, the 
mistress of enticements. There was, however, among 
these evils, a hope of your religion, which might sooth 
my miserable soul. Despairing of myself, I reclined 
upon you; I proposed you to be my defenders against 
demons, protectors against the most cruel enemies. 
Now, therefore, because I have reached the end of my 
life, and shall have those exactors of the punishment 
whom I had advisers in my sin, I ask you, by the 
maternal bosom which you have sucked, if you have 




HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 


"5 

any faith, any piety, that you at least attempt to alle¬ 
viate my sufferings; and though you will not recall the 
sentence issued concerning my soul, yet perhaps you 
will preserve my body by this means. Sew it in a 
stag’s hide, afterwards recline it in a stone sarcophagus, 
fasten the cover with lead and iron; besides this, sur¬ 
round the stone with three iron chains, viz.—of great 
weight; let there be psalm-singers for fifty nights, and 
the same number of masses in the days, which may 
mitigate the ferocious attacks of my enemies. So, if I 
should lie securely for three nights, on the fourth day 
bury your mother in the ground, although I fear that 
the earth, which I have so often burdened with my 
vices, will not receive me in her bosom.’ 

Her desires were complied with in the most atten¬ 
tive form. 

But oh ! her wickedness: pious tears, vows, prayers, 
availed nothing; so great was the wickedness of the 
woman, so great was the violence of the Devil. 

For, on the first two nights, when choirs of clerks 
were singing psalms around the body, certain devils, 
breaking with the greatest ease the door of the church 
fastened with a huge bolt, burst asunder the two chains 
at the extremities. The middle one, which was more 
elaborately wrought, remained entire. 

On the third night, about cock-crowing, the whole 
monastery seemed to be overturned from its foundations 
by the noise of the approaching enemies. One more 
terrible than the rest in look, and taller in stature. 







I 


I I 6 HISTORY OF BERKELEY. 

shaking the doors with greater force, dashed them into 
fragments. 

The clerks stood stiff with terror, their hair on end, 
and bereft of speech. He advancing with a proud step 
to the coffin, and calling the woman by name, ordered 
her to arise. 

Upon her answering that she could not on account 
of the chains, ‘You shall be loosed,’ said he, ‘and 
to your eviland immediately broke the chain, 
which had eluded the ferocity of the rest, with as 
much ease as packthread. He also kicked off the lid 
of the coffin with his foot, and having taken her 
by the hand, drew her out of the church in the sight 
of them all. 

Before the doors stood a proud black horse neighing, 
with iron hooks projecting over his whole back. 

The woman was put upon it, and soon disappeared 
from the eyes of the spectators, with the whole company. 

The cries of the woman, supplicating for help, were 
heard for nearly four miles.” 

Scriptor. p. Bed. 48. 

Inventions like these were common modes of revenge among Eccle¬ 
siastics, a similar story being told of the body of Charles Martell, King of 
France, and others. 

Perhaps the farce was acted by persons in disguise, for this was also 
usual. At all events, the woman had bitter enemies, and was so traduced 
upon the same grounds as the vulgar slander the memory of deceased 
persons whom they dislike, by affirming (to use their own language) that 
“ they walk;" a calumnious custom, derived from this ancient practice. 


THE END. 









NOTICES OF THE PRESS ON THE FIRST EDITION. 


“This is a carefully and correctly compiled history of this ancient 
town, with its castle and church. The old place is full of interest 
—teems, as it were, with narrative and tradition, and Mr. Fisher 
has done ample justice to his subject. We recommend the work 
to our readers.”— Bristol Times, July 26, 1856. 

“ By the aid of modern facilities of transit, by land and water, 
there are so many persons now constantly visiting the town of 
Berkeley, that we are sure this brief history will be considered 
a great acquisition by the curious traveller. It is carefully and cor¬ 
rectly compiled, and confers credit upon the author, the Rev. J. 
Fisher.”— Gloucester Journal, August 2, 1856. 

“ A charming little hand-book, giving a description and history 
of the town of Berkeley, its castle and church, compiled by the 
Rev. John Fisher, curate of that place, has just been published, and 
no doubt will prove an acceptable companion to all who may be led 
to visit a spot which is so fruitful in time-honoured associations. 
Mr. Fisher has aimed, in his guide, both at perspicuity and concise¬ 
ness, and has fully succeeded. The book, which is illustrated by 
some good engravings, is dedicated to the Earl Fitzhardinge.”— 
Cheltenham Journal, August 9, 1856. 














LEICESTER 


PRINTED BY T. CHAPMAN BROWNE, 
BIBLE AND CROWN. 


,«F b33^ 











































t.T'*-'* 



















